Stephens Co. BOE Adjusts 2015-2016 School Calendar

The Stephens County Board of Education adjusts the 2015-2016 school calendar to add in four more days to the calendar.

School board members unanimously approved the calendar change at a called meeting and work session on Thursday.

This coming year’s school calendar required adjustment because on Monday, the Stephens County Board of Education approved a tentative budget that lowered the number of calendar reduction days by four, requiring four days to be put back into the school calendar for the upcoming year.

Stephens County School Superintendent Bryan Dorsey said that the goal was to add two days back in to the first semester and two days back in to the second semester to keep both semesters even.

For the Fall semester, Dorsey said the system’s only real option was to eliminate the previously scheduled Fall Break on October 12 and 13 and make those regular days.

“The first semester one was not a lot of thought to be very candid,” said Dorsey. “October were the only two dates that did not change the start time, Christmas, or Thanksgiving.”

Dorsey said the school system had more options for adding two days back in to the Spring semester.

He said that it was decided the best two days to make regular days were March 25 and April 29.

“The second semester, there are quite a few alternatives, but it was honestly just talking with a few people, so it was not great deliberation,” said Dorsey. “The 25th (of March) because it is before testing and the 29th (of April) because we can focus on recovering any make-ups.”

Both of those days had previously been designated as inclement weather recovery days.

Board of Education member Dr. Elizabeth Pinkerton asked if adding one of the days back in February, when the school system is out for an entire week, would be beneficial to make sure both added days came before mandated testing.

Dorsey said that was looked at, but he feels closing for a week in February can have a benefit for the school system.

“It is a high-energy month compared to April,” said Dorsey of February. “If we can shut down for a week and be out nine days, we can save a lot of money.”

Dorsey did say that if more days are added back into the calendar later on, there is room in the second semester to fit those days in.

The start of school for students in Stephens County remains Friday, August 14, with pre-planning for teachers starting on Monday, August 10.

There is also no change to the end date for the 2015-2016 school year.