Although there are several weeks remaining in the 2010-11 school year, a tentative school calendar for next year is now in place, following action taken by the Board of Education at its monthly meeting Monday night.

The new calendar was set in place only after a lengthy discussion and some debate on what days classes should be held or dismissed.

The calendar presented to the board for consideration originally contained a two-day fall break, October 13 and 14 of the Foothills Festival weekend, and dismissing classes the day prior to the Thanksgiving holiday, which would have seen no school from Wednesday through Friday of that week.

The bottom line opinion of Superintendent Mickey McFall and all five board members was that no matter how the calendar was set, everyone–teachers and/or parents, wouldn’t be totally pleased with the entire schedule.

Board member Paula Key objected to dismissing classes the day prior to Thanksgiving, saying it was doing a disservice to parents who had to work that day. She noted it would force many to get babysitters or day care for their children. She also noted that many factory workers require people to work the day before and after a holiday in order to get holiday pay.

Board member Junior Cecil had a different view, saying he felt the extra day around the holiday would be a way to reward teachers and said most teachers favored taking off the Wednesday before Thanksgiving.

There was also discussion on cutting back the fall break to two days in lieu of a full week. Key noted that in many cases, families already had plans to take vacations that week.

Board member Goldie Stonecipher also questioned a full two-week Christmas break, noting the number of total days that would include.

Following the discussion, Key made a motion to basically “keep the calendar like the current years.” That basically included keeping a full week fall break, the two-week Christmas break and attending classes on the Wednesday prior to Thanksgiving.

The motion eventually passed by unanimous vote.

Under the changes made to the calendar as opposed to the one presented, the opening day of school for students will be August 9, with the closing day for students being May 11 (barring no days missed.)

There will be a full week fall break October 10-14; students will attend class Wednesday, November 23 (day before Thanksgiving); the Christmas break will be two weeks, starting December 19 with students returning to class on January 2; and a full week spring break April 2-6.

There is also three built-in work days, no school on election days and 16 make-up days included in the 2011-12 calendar.