Clark schools will open Sept. 6 for the 2011-2012 academic year, according to the calendar announced by Clark School District Superintendent Kenneth Knops.
The calendar was approved by the Board of Education Tuesday night, where several vacation breaks were reduced to create a shorter school year.
“The calendar was developed with the vision to promote academic rigor and offer a more compact school year,” Knops said.
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There will not be a full week for Thanksgiving Break in November, and President’s Day weekend in February will be limited to a three-day weekend, according to the calendar.
There will be no half days scheduled for professional development for the staff days, instead four professional development days have been built into the calendar before students begin and after students end.
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Staff will be required to report back to school on Sept. 1 and 2, before Labor Day weekend.
“This gives up a leg up,” Knops said. “A lot of districts have their in-service days after Labor Day, so our students will start on Sept. 6, instead of a lot of school districts start on Sept. 8, and we’re looking for a compact school schedule.”
Knops said the goal is to let school out before temperatures rise in June which makes learning difficult.
Three snow days are built into the calendar, and if not used, will be added to Memorial Day weekend.
The calendar was created with input from the Parent-Teacher Association presidents, the Clark Education Association and administrators within the Clark school district.
Specific dates for school breaks will be announced at a later time.
