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Duncan school board approves calendar, later start date

Derrick Miller The Duncan Banner

DUNCAN — Making the school calendar more family-friendly, Duncan Board of Education members approved the 2012-13 calendar with a later start date.

In fact, the first day of school will be nearly two weeks later than what it was for the 2011-12 school year.

Students won’t return to class, following summer break, until Aug. 22.

Teachers will have professional development Aug. 20 and 21.

“We are starting a little bit later than in the past,” Assistant Superintendent Glenda Cobb said to the board during Tuesday’s regular meeting.

Red River Technology Center and Cameron University-Duncan were approached about Duncan’s later start date.

“We have talked to area superintendents,” Cobb said.

Cobb said both schools were on board with the calendar. Cobb said Susan Camp, CU-Duncan program director, didn’t have a problem with Duncan starting later, as long as students were reminded earlier to enroll in their college courses.

Having a later start date is also essential to saving money, in using air conditioners less.

Support staff gains a few more days for building maintenance to prepare for the new school year.

Cobb said this also allows them to get paychecks sooner, which helps employees who need the money, to pay bills and cover other expenditures.

Duncan Superintendent Sherry Labyer said this year’s school budget may be more expensive because of this, but expects it to even out in subsequent years.

Changing the start date also changes other breaks during the academic year and benefits families with planning for weekend trips. For instance, Fall Break will be on a Friday and Monday.

If there is a football game that Thursday, football and band students won’t have to stay around longer to be in attendance, like they have in the past when Fall Break has been set for Thursday and Friday.

Winter Break will be Dec. 20 through Jan. 2, 2013. This was adjusted to respond to concerns following the end of Winter Break this school year, when students returned just one day after New Year’s Day.

Labyer said the calendar takes into account days parents may have off work, including Jan. 2 and various holidays, such as Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

Another issue considered was the end of the school year. Because the first day of school for the 2012-13 school year is later, the last day of school will be later, too.

Graduation is set for May 24, 2013. The last day of school will be May 29, 2013.

The board also approved permission to hold a summer Driver’s Education course which will begin May 29 and run through June 25.

Each student will be charged a fee of $150 and instructors will be hired as warranted by the class enrollment.

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