A First Look at the Proposed 2017-18 Williamson County School Calendar

FRANKLIN, TN — While the calendar is not yet official, Williamson County parents and students now have a tentative look at the school schedule for the 2017-18 academic year.

Under the proposal — a compromise labeled as Proposal M — school would begin August 10 and end May 18. Fall break would be shrunk to three days, October 9 through 11, and Thanksgiving would be a full week off. Students would be out December 22 to January 4 for the holidays and March 26 through 30 for spring break.

Unlike many years, schools would be open Veteran's Day,

The length of fall break and the decision on maintaining the day off for Veteran's Day were the biggest hang-ups with the proposal, according to the Franklin Home Page.

Superintendent Mike Looney prefers a school calendar that minimizes disruptions and maintains instructional flow. The timing of fall break often gets students out of rhythm when it's a full week, he said. As for Veteran's Day, the widespread participation of marching bands in the county's parades leads to band instructors having to be paid an additional fee since they are working on a contracted day off.

Looney did say he would work with schools to arrange field trips so students can attend Veteran's Day programs.