Lyons Township High Calendar Not Ideal, But It Works: Officials

LA GRANGE, IL – Lyons Township High School's first day next year may be earlier than you'd like.

But officials said they took into account all the factors.

The first day is Aug. 16, which is earlier than usual.

At Monday's school board meeting, Patrice Payne, the school's curriculum director, said she heard concerns about the first day.

But she said pushing back a week would have had its own problems.

Under the plan, the first semester would have nine fewer days than the second. Starting later would increase the imbalance to 13 days.

"I don't think when people are responding (to the school's request for feedback), they are necessarily thinking about the trickle-down effect when we make those adjustments," Payne said.

With a later start, final exams would end up before and after the Memorial Day holiday.

"That is not conducive to anything," Superintendent Brian Waterman said.

The school board unanimously approved the calendar with the Aug. 16 start date.

Waterman said he would inform the high school's feeder schools about the calendar.

"No one can be in lockstep," he said. "But they use it to guide their conversations."