School Board Reviews 2011-2012 Calendar

Based on the results of a parents survey, the Ledyard High School Class of 2012 would graduate on June 23 – a Saturday – and the traditional February vacation would be shortened to one or two days. Those were two highlights of a proposed calendar for the 2011-2012 school year that was reviewed by the Board of Education at its regular meeting Wednesday.

Schools Superintendent Dr. Michael Graner said the Saturday graduation proposal is based on a survey of parents with children in the class of 2012. The 85 parents who responded favored a Saturday afternoon graduation by a 2 to 1 margin, he said.

The same parents reported that a weekday graduation, which has been the historic norm, was the worst proposed option. Travel considerations for extended family members were cited among the reasons.

 The 183-day calendar would largely conform to the regional calendar adopted, at least in part, by towns throughout southeastern Connecticut. Under the proposed calendar, February vacation would be eliminated in favor of a one or two day holiday the week of February 21.

An excess of snow days this year led to the decision to eliminated most of the February break. That decision also was made with the help of a parents survey.

Ledyard would maintain April vacation and keep its tradition of a full day off on November 23 – the Wednesday before Thanksgiving – rather than the half-day common in other local districts.

“We have had no school all day on the day before Thanksgiving for as least as long as I’ve been here,” Graner said. “Families travel, and, frankly, it’s worth it.”

Graner proposed having a partial day of school on December 23, rather than Ledyard’s standard full day, to comport with the regional calendar. Board member Gordon Strickland, however, disagreed.

“In general, I’m opposed to half-days” as a waste of resources, he said, noting that bus and staff costs remain the same while instructional time is halved.

If the calendar were adopted as proposed, school would begin on August 31, the last day of the school year would be June 14, and the district would be able to accommodate six snow days without reconfiguring the calendar. “Mind you, we’re already at seven this year,” Graner said.

The Board will vote on the 2011-2012 school year calendar at its regular meeting on March 16.