Wednesday, May 5, 2004

Trustees approve school calendars

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By DANA DUGAN
Express Staff Writer

Who decides when the students of the Blaine County School District begin and end their school years?

As it happens, a committee comprising parents, teachers, principals and administrators determines the school calendar every three years.

Because 2004 was the final year in the rotation, a new calendar has been set. The Calendar Committee began meeting in December to formulate the calendar for the 2004-2005, 2005-2006 and 2006-2007 school years.

The committee met once a month to formulate the schedules and present their recommendations to the Blaine County School Board.

The new calendars that can now be used for planning were finalized by the Board of Trustees in March. As well, the district recently finalized the Parent-Teacher Conferences and Staff Development Schedules, improving and coordinating the Middle School and High School Parent-Teacher conferences.

Numerous issues were taken into account while forming the new calendar. Among the most important was arranging the calendar so that students have more time to prepare for the testing requirements of the No Child Left Behind Act.

Two four-day weeks at the beginning of the school year were retained, which allows teachers more time to prepare for their students and allows an extended Labor Day weekend.

The Parent-Teacher Conference schedule was changed so that all elementary schools, as well as the Wood River Middle School and Wood River High School, have complementary schedules.

Early dismissals were eliminated before every day off, except for the days preceding Thanksgiving, Christmas and spring breaks. The early dismissals will be two hours earlier than normal dismissal.

The two-week break for Christmas was also retained, as were Martin Luther King and Presidents’ three-day weekends.

The committee also took into consideration the number of students involved in fall extra-curricular activities and how much preparation time was needed for various sports seasons, as compared to other Region IV schools.

The first day of school next fall is Monday, Aug. 30. Thanksgiving break is Nov. 25 through Nov. 28. Christmas Break is Dec. 20, with school resuming Jan. 3.

Martin Luther King Day is Jan. 17. President’s Day is Feb. 21. Spring Break begins March 28 and school resumes April 4. The last day of school is Friday, June 3, 2005.

For a complete copy of the next school year calendar or future calendars, contact Kate Skroski at 578-5000 or [email protected].

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