School system asks for public opinion on 2012-13 school calendar

Two calendar options were presented to the board— one with an earlier spring break than year's past, which includes a break beginning in the first week in April. The other option suggests a later spring break, after students are finished taking the state standardized Criterion-Referenced Competency Test(s) or CRCT(s).

According to Creel, 1,516 elementary, middle and high school parents responded to the initial calendar survey in November.

More than 68 percent of those people selected that they either strongly agree or agree with the “superintendent and BOE to prioritize academic and testing schedules above all others in developing the calendar,” she said. Responders only strongly disagreed with the previous statement at 2.8 percent, according to Creel, which was the lowest ranking option the public could offer opinions on with respect to the calendar. Twenty percent said either agree or disagree, Creel said.

Both proposed calendars reflect a full week for Thanksgiving break, Creel said. Option one has a shorter fall break and option two has a three-day fall break. Both calendar options are also aligned with possible furlough days.

“It is very difficult for us to create a calendar and to know what that's going to be after a budget is approved in late May,” said Creel. “If we found ourselves already having to incorporate furlough days, they would already be identified on the calendar.”

More than 72 percent of respondents reflected interest in started classes earlier in August in order to keep a fall break and finish the first school semester before winter break, said Creel.

Creel suggested that the system post the two proposed calendar options to the school system website in order to field more opinions from the public.