| LCISD tables calendar decision |
| By Bob Haenel | Friday, January 19, 2007 5:38 PM CST |
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| One thing Lamar School District students know is that they will start the 2007-2008 school year on Aug. 27. That's mandated by the Texas Legislature. The rest of the calendar for that school year remains up in the air after the board of trustees Thursday tabled approving the calendar recommended by staff and a committee set up to decide the issue.
That calendar calls for:
€ shortening the Thanksgiving holiday to three days off instead of five;
€ concludes the district's first semester in 80 days with the last day before the holiday break on Dec. 21;
€ students return to class on Jan. 8;
€ spring break is March 17-24; and
€ the last day of school would be June 4.
Of the proposed calendar, questions raised included the arbitrary determination of an 80-day first semester; pushing the last day of school to June 4; and stretching the Christmas holiday break with students returning on Jan. 8.
Board president Mike Richard said most people do not have four days off after New Year's Day, which creates a difficulty for some parents in daycare costs. He also said he'd like to see the end of school at the end of May.
Other board members asked about the timing of junior college and college start dates for summer school; when graduation would occur; and other school district calendars calendars.
Christy Willman, director of Communications, noted the decisions were determined by a district committee after lengthy deliberations, adding that parents and teachers wanted the two weeks for Christmas break.
She checked with WCJC and UT, the two schools with 2008 schedules posted, and WCJC begins summer school on June 4 that year while UT begins it on June 5.
Erasmo Teran, executive director of secondary education, said most students who attend college summer school are exempt from finals the last week of school and the summer school start date, enabling them to meet summer school schedule.
Trustee Sam Hopkins said he'd like to study the drafts of calendars prepared by the committee as did Trustee Mary Lou Dujka. Trustee Julie Thompson said the schedule was fine with her.
Superintendent Dr. Thomas Randle said the board needs to focus on educational needs.
“The calendar must be driven by instructional practices,” Randle told the board, “not by vacations.”
Trustees will take another look at the calendar at its February meeting.
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