Updated at 11:15 a.m. Friday to correct information on length of fall break and Thanksgiving break; updated earlier to correct Dr. David Heath's title.
Vote on next year's school calendar scheduled Monday

By KERRI BARTLETT
For Brentwood Home Page
The proposed 2012-13 school calendar was a hot topic of discussion at the Williamson County Board of Education work session Thursday night.

Chief Academic Officer Dr. David Heath introduced the proposed calendar, which was composed by a group of teachers and central office staff. The board will vote on the final calendar at its next meeting, 6:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 21, at the Administrative Complex Auditorium.

The calendar was called “unique” by the board because of the circumstances contributing to the proposed early start date of Friday, Aug. 10, for the first day of school, which would be a half-day.

Heath said that because of the way that certain holidays and important dates fell on the calendar, such as Election Day, the leap year, and Memorial Day falling on May 27 instead of a few days later as in past years, the proposed date to open schools was pushed forward. He said that left little room for  adjustments; however, the issue opened a lengthy discussion and many opinions and alternatives were shared.

Some board members discussed the positives about having an early start date including teachers and students being given a Fall Break and a week off forThanksgiving. However, other board members suggested that instead of starting on Friday, Aug. 10, two days should be borrowed from Thanksgiving Break allowing the first day of school to be bumped back to Tuesday, Aug. 14.

Susan Graham

“What I hear from my constituents is that due to different activities during the summer months such as camps, summer jobs, and family vacations, starting school later gives families a chance to complete these activities and have a few weeks off before starting school," said school board member Susan Graham, who represents District 7 of Brentwood.

 "I believe that we can start school later and still accomplish all goals for the calendar. I would like to see a three-day Thanksgiving Break and would like for school to start two days later than the proposed calendar.”

Graham also said she is concerned about students missing so many days during the fall in which at least one or more days are missed three weeks in a row due to holidays, parent/ teacher conferences and Election Day.

“I believe that we have consistently moved the start date of school forward and that it is not in the best interest of families," said school board member Terry Leve, representing District 6 of Brentwood.

Terry Leve

"Starting Friday as a half day would increase the probability of absences unnecessarily across the county. Starting later would eliminate some of that. Starting the next Monday or Tuesday is OK, I just struggle with starting school on Friday.”

Also, other factors that affect how the calendar is devised include requirements for the number of instructional days in the calendar school year, the distribution of days as evenly as possible between 1st and 2nd semesters, and the required allotment of 160 days before TCAP is administered.

Although many factors have to be taken into account while composing the school calendar, board members will have to weigh the options and decide which way to cast their vote at Monday's meeting.

Williamson County Schools will dismiss early Friday with a half-day and will be closed all next week for this year's Thanksgiving Break.