Johnston School Board to Discuss 2012-13 School Year Calendar

There should be more answers about the 2012-13 Johnston school calendar after tonight's school board meeting.

The jam-packed agenda includes a discussion of student and teacher survey results regarding this year's early start of school date and whether or not it affected finals for students.

The district began the 2011-12 school year on Aug. 15 in order to hold semester finals before winter break. The projected start date for the 2012-13 school year was Aug. 13. However, the district has not made any decisions on a start date pending the survey and discussion.

In December, several with the early start date.

, Associate Superintendent Jim Casey told the board that students and staff members in eighth to 12th grades received a survey to gauge their satisfaction or dissatisfaction with having finals before winter break.

Tonight's meeting agenda reported that 1,876 students, grades eight to 12, responded to the survey, along with 132 high school and middle school teachers.

Student appeared to overwhelmingly prefer finals before winter break.

For more survey results and a discussion recap visit Johnston Patch Tuesday morning.

Other agenda items include:

• Approval of a contract with FRK/Perkins & Will to provide .
• Discussion of a preliminary staffing plan for the 2012-13 school year.
• Overview of the district's collective bargaining policies.

The Johnston school board meets at 6 p.m. at the Administrative Resource Center.