Jackson School Board sets dates for school year

Getting a jump on the next school year, the Jackson School Board on Tuesday approved the 2011-2012 calendar for the Jackson School District.

There aren't many changes from this year's calendar. The first day of classes falls on a Thursday, Aug. 18, to accommodate the traditional break between semesters.

"We have to make sure we have enough days in so we can finish the first semester prior to Christmas vacation," said Ron Anderson, superintendent of the Jackson School District.

There are, as usual, a number of professional development and teacher work days built into the 175-day school year.

Spring break is slated for April 6 to 9, a long weekend. And the district has booked March 16, April 9 and May 21 to 24 for inclement weather makeup days.

The last day of school is tentatively set for Friday, May 18, 2012.

Anderson said the Jackson school calendar attempts to line up with the Cape Girardeau School District's calendar.

"Many of our students attend the [Cape Girardeau School District's] Career and Technology Center half a day. If we can match within reasonable times, it's beneficial to students so they can have a schedule that works," Anderson said. "It's not identical, but it's similar."

The scheduling process involves administrators and staff, Anderson said, with employees selecting between one of two final calendar options.

The 2011-2012 school calendar was ironed out weeks ahead of schedule, with the hope of giving all stakeholders more time to plan, Anderson said.

"We think it's beneficial for our parents and for planning purposes to identify next year's calendar sooner," the superintendent said.

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