TUSCALOOSA | The Tuscaloosa City School System decided Thursday night not to cancel classes to be held on the day of the BCS National Championship Game.

“We are thrilled and excited that one of our partners [the University of Alabama] has made it to a national level, but that does not affect a K through 12 institution,” Joyce Levey, superintendent of the city school system, said during a work session.

Levey said 37 of the system’s faculty and staff members asked her to cancel school for the football game on Jan. 7, which is the first day that students return to school from Christmas break.

The request was considered and placed on the school board meeting’s agenda, but the board rejected the request.

“In terms of trying to accommodate people, we’re not in any shape to accommodate anyone,” said Earnestine Tucker, the board’s vice chairwoman. “The schedule is made. We shouldn’t change everything for 3 percent of our faculty and staff. If they have the time accrued to take off, then they should take it.”