Committee Still Undecided on School Calendar

With opinions split on whether to start the 2016-17 school year in August or after Labor Day, School Committee Chairman Bruce Gardner is hoping a third option could be the solution.

Monday night, Gardner proposed a school calendar where students would return on Thursday, Sept. 1.

The chairman’s call for the third option came after viewing the opinions of parents on social media and being unable to find a consensus.

“I thought we had a really positive experience on social media with the discussion of the calendar,” Gardener said. Unfortunately, the only conclusion I can draw from is is this is sone of those topics it’s really hard to get consensus on because there are some really valid points both ways.

Superintendent Debra Spinelli said a Sept. 1 start would mean the board would have to decide if Labor Day weekend would be three days or four days, with class on the Friday before the holiday being very unpopular in the past.

“I don’t know if I’m that interested in a calendar that feels good psychologically. I think it has to be a practical option,” Spinelli said.

At their last meeting, the board discussed starting either on Aug. 30 or Sept. 6. Labor Day 2016 is on Sept. 4.

The board will vote on the calendar at their next meeting on Jan. 25.