Tuesday, November 17, 2020 - 9:34 am
Deputy Superintendent Sherri Cyra and Director of Communications Perry Hibner reviewed the 2021-22 draft calendar and the process used for developing it at the Board of Education regular meeting on Monday, Nov. 16.
Board president Annette Ashley presided over the meeting at the District Services Center, while other Board members participated remotely. The School Board has been meeting virtually since mid-March.
Hibner reminded the Board that the District formed a calendar committee in March 2020 and that the committee held four meetings last school year. The Board also received an update on the committee's work at its first meeting in May. The committee has met only once in the fall, to review possible calendars for the next school year, because of the challenges and additional time needed for virtual learning. Hibner and Cyra originally developed four possible calendars for 2021-22. The draft calendars were very similar to the 2020-21 calendar approved by the School Board in December 2019. The draft calendars were reviewed by the calendar committee, the District Services Team, and building leaders. Tweaks were made based on feedback staff have provided at listening sessions as well, Hibner said. Hibner noted the 2021-22 calendar has six professional development days. One professional development day will take place on Tuesday, Aug. 31, the day before students start school. The five others take place during the student school year and will be on Wednesdays, just as they are this year during virtual learning. The District is proposing that Oct. 28-29 be off days for staff based on feedback. The District also is proposing that winter break begin on Wednesday, Dec. 22. The District has set up each calendar so there are three days -- Jan. 18-20 and June 6-8 -- in a week set aside for final exams for each semester at the secondary level.
The plan is for the School Board to approve the 2021-22 calendar at its meeting on Dec. 7.