School District Announces Calendar Survey

Though 2011 is not yet over, officials with are already looking ahead to 2014—or at least a calendar that will take them there.

The district is surveying the school community as officials begin the process of creating calendars for the next two school years—2012-2013 and 2013-2014.

Parents, teachers and staff, students and non-parent community members are all invited to take part in the online survey found at this link, though staff members have been emailed the survey at their employee email addresses and have been asked to submit that staff-only version of the survey.

According to a letter to parents posted on the district’s website, responses to the survey will be kept confidential. A copy of the letter is attached to this article.

The current school calendar offers five-day breaks in September (fall break), November (Thanksgiving break), February (winter break) and April (spring break), as well as a 10-day holiday break in December. The current calendar also features “balanced semesters” so the first semester and its end-of-semester tests end before the holiday break begins.

The breaks are a significant part of the survey. One question asks which of the breaks respondents would be most likely to utilize for a family vacation. Other questions ask one’s preference over shortening or eliminating breaks with the aim of starting the school year later or ending it sooner.

The district out of necessity eliminated earlier this calendar year one weeklong break. Students and staff had school during the week originally slated for winter break after school board members voted during the month prior.

The survey notes that any calendar established by the district must have at least 180 days or equivalent for students and 190 days for teachers, while officials aim to retain the balanced semester format.

Those interested in taking the survey have until Nov. 25 to share their feedback.

More information on the survey and calendar process can be found in the letter to parents posted on the district’s website.