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Board receives draft calendars for next two academic years

Aerial view of Kuhlman stadium with water tower in foreground.
Board receives draft calendars for next two academic years

District administrators presented drafts of calendars for the next two academic years to the School Board on Nov. 18. The proposed calendars are the work of a Calendar Committee comprised of parents, teachers, and administrators who have been meeting since September.  In addition, a parent and staff Calendar Survey was conducted in October, which provided important input to the creation of the draft calendars. The work was led by Bryan Bass, assistant superintendent, and Randy Smasal, director of Teaching and Learning.

Features of the proposed calendars are:

  • Before Labor Day start dates for both years to capitalize on time and cost efficiencies for construction projects
  • November Election Day is a no-student day both years (in response to requests heard from parents over the past several years)
  • Winter Break for the 2020-21 school year is two full weeks; Winter Break for 2021-22 is one day short of two weeks
  • Four Early Release days in each calendar year, used for staff development time (there will be no Late Start Days in either year in response to parent preference conveyed in the Calendar Survey)
  • Spring Break in 2021 falls the last week of March/first week of April; in 2022, Spring Break is slated for the second-to-last week of March
  • The proposed last day of school in 2021 is June 4; in 2022 the last day is June 2

In discussion, School Board members asked why Spring Break differs between the two calendars, with one falling a week later than the next year. Bass told the Board that the survey response to a question about Spring Break preference was equally split between the earlier and later dates and that the committee took this approach in order to honor both preferences. Discussion continued around whether it would be better to have consistency between the years. Also, concerns were raised about having Spring Break earlier and a potential conflict with the Boys’ State Basketball Tournament. The Calendar Committee will convene again in December to consider this change.

Also in response to family and staff request, Administration announced plans to maintain a standing Calendar Committee that will meet each year in order to create a “rolling calendar.” This ensures there will always be two academic calendars available.

The School Board is expected to approve calendars for the 2020-21 and 2021-22 school years at the Dec. 16 Board meeting.