Hamilton County Schools to form committee to revise school calendar

Staff file photo by Doug Strickland / Hamilton County Schools superintendent Bryan Johnson gives a "State of Our Schools" address to the Hamilton County Council of PTAs in the Hamilton County Department of Education board room on Oct. 18, 2017.
Staff file photo by Doug Strickland / Hamilton County Schools superintendent Bryan Johnson gives a "State of Our Schools" address to the Hamilton County Council of PTAs in the Hamilton County Department of Education board room on Oct. 18, 2017.

Hamilton County Schools is considering revising the school calendar for the 2018-2019 school year.

A community committee will be formed to review calendar options provided by parents, students and staff and prepare a calendar for the school board's approval. The district is now accepting applications for the committee.

Due to possible revisions, the adoption of the calendar will be later than usual - most likely in February or March, according to a news release from the district.

"The school calendar is important and we want to make sure we have worked with all groups impacted to find the best option for our schools and our community," Superintendent Bryan Johnson said in a statement. "We will complete the review shortly after the first of the year and have a calendar ready for board approval in February or March."

The district plans on working with parents, the community and staff to develop the "best possible school calendar for the community, while also keeping the focus on the best calendar structure for the academic success of children," reads the release.

"Teachers, staff, students and the community will all be invited to provide options they would like to see included in the calendar and be encouraged to give their thoughts on options the committee considers," Johnson said.

On Dec. 6, the plan was shared with the system's Parent Advisory Group. That group asked the district to plan as far ahead as the 2019-2020 school year.

"That is certainly something we can work toward as we complete the review of the 2018-2019 calendar and we can look at moving in that direction this calendar cycle or certainly for the next cycle," Johnson said.

Once the committee is chosen, it will develop options for the system's calendar that will be included in a final survey, along with the previously proposed calendar. Community members will be invited to weigh-in on the calendars before they are presented to the school board.

If you are interested in participating in the calendar committee, email Tim Hensley at hensley_t@hcde.org. The committee meeting dates and times will be determined by those selected to serve on the committee.

Contact Meghan Mangrum at mmangrum@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6592. Follow her on Twitter @memangrum.

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