Schools eye extended calendar for 2010-11

Parents, teachers and principals spoke in favor of an extended schedule for the next school year at a meeting on Jan. 28.

A "1st Century Calendar" was introduced as a proposal for the 2010-2011 academic year. If it is approved, students would start school Aug. 2 instead of Aug. 5, and the school year would end for them June 6 instead of May 20.

Any calendar would have to be approved by the school board before it could take effect. The extended calendar does not change the number of days required by law for students to attend, which is 180.

However, the extended calendar has features that school officials believe would be beneficial for students, said Superintendent Jeff Cox in a phone interview Monday.

"We are of the opinion this will be better for the students academically because it provides opportunities for academic acceleration and enrichment activities throughout the year," he said.

From a "family point of view, if offers several chances for vacation so parents can take the family vacation during any of the four seasons," he said.

The calendars will be presented to the school staffs for input and the group will meet again next week to further discuss the matter. The discussion thus far is strictly preliminary.

Assistant Superintendent Tony Hall said school officials hope to make a recommendation to the Alleghany County Board of Education at their Feb. 10 meeting.

The extended school year would have 215 days, Hall said, including the students' mandatory 180 days, a minimum of 10 state holidays, 15 teacher workdays, five protected teacher workdays and 10 makeup days.

The calendar would permit six and a half to seven weeks for summer break, with the first semester completed by Christmas, a week break in the fall, three weeks at Christmas and two weeks in the spring.