School Board To Vote on New Calendar

CORRECTION: The proposed calendar would end June 5th, 2012, not June 25th. 

The School Board will vote on changes to next year's academic calendar at its Dec. 8 meeting.

Assistant Supt.  Dr. Robert Rammer has proposed a calendar which would begin Aug. 23, 2011, and end June 5, 2012. The major difference in the 2011-12 calendar from the current calendar, he said, is a change in the length of in-service days. The district currently has four half days. He is proposing two full days.

The changes were discussed at the board's Nov. 10 at . 

"We think a full-day is more productive," Rammer said. He added that half days are often troublesome for parents planning for childcare and transportation.

The first full institute day would be Friday, Feb. 17, 2011. That would give students a four-day weekend through Monday, Feb. 20, 2011, President's Day. The second institute day is slated for Friday, March 2.

"It seems like that's a lot of time off," said Barbara Intihar, school board secretary.

Superintendent responded to Intihar's concern. "Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday are our highest attendance days," he said, so the district should plan to 'maximize learning' on the highest attendance days."

, the school board vice president, proposed the idea of a policy or procedure that recognizes religious holidays that affect school activities. A policy would be doable, Intihar said, and suggested that at the least, procedures could be in place. "Whatever helps us do our job best," she said.

The Dec. 8 meeting will be held at 7:30 p.m. at Pleasant Hill Elementary School, 1N220 Pleasant Hill Rd., Winfield. 

The school board also recognized National Merit Scholar semifinalists from Wheaton North and Wheaton Warrenville South high schools, announced School Board Member Day, Nov. 15, a Hubble building award and National School Psychologists Awareness Week at its Nov. 10 meeting.