BOE approves 2011-2012 calendar

The Canton Board of Education approved a 2011-12 school calendar on Tuesday night, slightly modified from the initial proposal.

After discussion with the school board two weeks ago, School Superintendent Kevin Case removed two "half days" from the calendar. He also added two snow-day makeups into the schedule for the end of the year, giving more leeway before cutting into spring vacation.

The version presented two weeks ago, which was a “first read” of the proposal, contained 15 half days for parent-teacher conferences, professional development and other reasons.

“I feel rigor is lost on those days,” board member Jonathan Webb said at that meeting. 

Case said academic standards should always be high and promised to look into the issue. Still, several board members concurred that fewer half days would be preferable.

Solutions were tricky because of schedules, the number of school days and length-of-day and other restrictions in the teachers’ contracts.

Case did, however, come back Tuesday with a proposal to reduce the number of early-release days for professional development from five to three. It brings the total number of early release days down to 13.

“I just applaud you for finding ways to skinny them down a little bit,” board member Mark Lange said.

Webb also asked if further opportunities to reduce half days might be made when renegotiating teacher contracts this summer.

Case said the contract is one reason he did not propose adoption of a 2012-13 calendar.

As part of the 2011-12 calendar, Case also recommended setting the first day of school for students Aug. 29 and moving a professional development day originally scheduled on that day to Oct. 11.

The move would allow teachers to review what they learned at development days on Aug. 25 and 26 and give families an extended Columbus Day weekend, Case said.

Although some board members at the meeting two weeks ago asked about moving the April vacation to the week of Good Friday and perhaps gaining an extra full day, Case recommended keeping it for the week of April 16 to 20, mostly to sync with other schools in the Farmington Valley.

“I am recommending we keep the April vacation where it is,” Case said Tuesday.

Case also increased the number of snow days that could be added on to the end of the year to seven. If there are more than seven, additional snow days would be made up by taking days from the April vacation, beginning April 16.

The tentative last day of school will be June 8.  Seven snow days would push that date as far back as June 19.

Graduation will be held on June 15, 2012 regardless of snow days.

The calendar also includes the traditional Thanksgiving break Nov. 24 and 25, winter break from Dec. 26 to Jan 2,2012, a two-day February recess on Feb. 21 and 22, 2012 and days off for other major holidays.

The board voted unanimously to accept the calendar.