Thursday night (Jan 19), the Kennedale Board of Trustees adopted a new calendar for the 2017-18 after several months of review. {{more:Read more …}}
The calendar differs with the calendar framework that has been used in recent years by setting an earlier start date of August 14 and ending the last full week in May and before Memorial Day. The calendar does have the same holidays as before ? Labor Day, Columbus Day, Thanksgiving, Winter Break, MLK, Presidents? Day, Spring Break (March) and Good Friday. But, it does adds several more student breaks. See calendar at end of article
Staff development days have been added with one each in September, November, February, April and two at the end of the year after the students are out for the year. Several of the staff development days during the year will be used as ?bad weather makeup days? if needed.
Extra week holiday ?
One other significant change is the addition of a week-long student break in April (16-20) is listed as ?Flexed Days? for the staff, providing additional opportunities for the faculty to obtain their 30 hours of training required for the year. Students do not attend school during that break but may still be involved in games, practices and other UIL activities.
The calendar went through several reviews with the staff and parents having the opportunity to vote on the final two options. One individual, a KHS student, spoke at the Board meeting in opposition of the early start date and one trustee voted nay on the final adoption of the new calendar.
Reasons for the change ?
The change was made possible when the Board adopted the Kennedale ISD School of Innovation plan which allows the district some leeway regarding TEA mandates which includes the school year. The primary reasons the district to adopt the new calendar was to:
- provide a balanced between fall and spring semesters, there is now 86 days in the fall and 85 in the spring which helps balance the time required to cover semester subjects.
- allow teachers more time in the school year to obtain required training/staff development
- assist in planning for required testing i.e. EOC, STARR, Advanced Placement and to match TCC schedule for students taking dual credit classes.
UIL activity dates unchanged …What the plan does not change are the UIL mandated times for extra-curricular activities. Those dates remain unchanged. In other words, the start time for football, band, volleyball and cross-country remain unchanged.(Click to see calendar hit return to come back to article) – View Adopted 2017-18 Calendar
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