R-5 board sets next year's start date on Aug. 19

Nevada R-5's superintendent of schools, Dr. David Stephens, told the R-5 school board during a public hearing Wednesday night, that he is proposing to start the 2011-'12 school year on Aug. 19; and, with the co-operation of the weather, to end the year on May 20.

Stephens said that the first semester will end on Dec. 21 and the second semester will start on Jan. 4.

He said that because the proposed start date is more than 10 days before Labor Day, the district is required to hold a public hearing before the start date is adopted.

"This hearing is for public comment. It will be voted on at the March board meeting," he said.

"We are required to have 175 instruction days," Stephens said.

He said the calendar has six snow days.

February 21 will be the first snow day and May 23-27 will add five more, he said.

The first semester will have 83 days and the second semester will have 92 days, one week of which is taken up for MAP testing, leaving 87 instruction days, he told the board.

"This is pretty typical of a school calendar, because of the Christmas break and semester end. It has no impact on MAP, except for having fewer days before MAP testing. The only option is to start school earlier," he said.

Stephens said that since the district does not have excused or unexcused absences, any student who is at the state fair as part of the FFA will be counted as present and will still be eligible for perfect attendance.