Oswego 308 Board Approves School Calendars for Next Two Years

The next two years of school in Oswego 308 will look very familiar.

The 308 board approved the school calendars for 2014-15 and 2015-16 in a  6-1 vote Monday evening.

The board had previously brought up a few issues with the proposed calendars, mostly on the “balance” of the two semesters as the fall semester had 84 days in school and the spring semester had 91 days.

Suggestions had been made to push winter break back, and be in school on Columbus Day and the Wednesday before Thanksgiving.

However, Superintendent Matt Wendt said upon review, three days in the spring semester are set aside for state assessments.

“Teaching and learning would look different on those three days, as course work, etc. will not continue. Consequently, the semester balance is far grater than what we have in print.”

Holidays remain the same in the two calendars and semester will continue to end in December on Thursday the 18th or 17th (depending on which calendar).

School will start on a Monday for the next two years (Aug. 18 or Aug. 17, respectively), despite earlier arguments that elementary children may not be ready for a full first week.

“No calendar is going to be viewed as favorable by all,” said Wendt. “We do have some secondary issues that influence the calendar, but we hope it never becomes a secondary vs. elementary.”

Wendt added that as the district moves forward with more college coursework and procedures of universities that have a semester break, there will be “sacrifices” at the elementary level.

In the future, Wendt said if there ever needed to be more professional development days he recommends the Monday and Tuesday of Thanksgiving break, as he feels the long week break encourages many to not show up for school already on that Tuesday.

The board voted 6-1 on the new calendars, with board president Bill Walsh casting the lone dissenting vote.

The calendars can be viewed by clicking here.

What do you think of the new calendars? Will having two years approved ahead of time be an additional resource for you?