While Thomson High Coach Luther Welsh is working with his football players to focus on blocking the Carver players in the state play off game, other leaders in the school system are working toward a few other changes for Friday.
Superintendent Mark Petersen has called for all McDuffie County schools to dismiss early tomorrow, with Dearing Elementary dismissing at 12:30 p.m. and all other schools dismissing at 1 p.m.
"It takes four and a half hours to get there, and if we were to get out at 3 o'clock, that'd be a stretch to make it," Dr. Petersen said. "(Early dismissal is) one of those things that you've just got to do."
Bus drivers and cafeteria staff have changed their schedules to accommodate the early dismissal. Dr. Petersen said 21st Century will begin at 1 p.m. and end at its normal dismissal time. Because students will be in school until after lunch, Dr. Petersen said the number of hours required by the state will be met, and the time won't have to be made up.
The game begins at 7:30 p.m. in Columbus. Dr. Petersen said early dismissal is necessary because the game affects so many people within the system.
"Here I've got 75 players, 150 to 200 band members, cheerleaders, extended family, the list goes on and on that affects our system, the whole nine yards," he said. "So we'll all be there rooting them on to bring a "W" home."
