Trigg County school board members discussed possible options for the 2020-2021 school year calendar during their Thursday night meeting.
Director of Personnel and Student Services James Mangels presented two options for the board to consider. Both options have students starting classes on August 19, almost two weeks later than normal. As we have previously reported, the delay comes at the request of contractors working on the elementary school renovation project, to ensure the district has enough classrooms for the start of the school year.
Mangels adds in both versions of the calendar, fall break would be shortened to just two days, October 8 and 9. Also, Thanksgiving Break would be November 25 through 27 and Spring Break would be the first full week in April 2021.
In the version presented to the board recommended by the calendar committee, Christmas Break would start December 23, with classes resuming January 5, 2021. Additionally, the last day for students would be May 20, 2021.
Mangels notes in recent conversations, a second option has come to the table, as some would like to see Christmas Break start on December 21, make students go back to class on January 4, and push the last day of school for students to May 21, 2021.
School board member Clara-Beth Hyde, who was absent from the meeting, but provided notes to Mangels, says she is in favor of the second option citing that substitutes might not be available on December 21 and 22 and low attendance those days could hurt the district financially.
Neither option was voted on at this time, as board members have two look at the calendar twice before approving it. A decision is expected to be made during their next meeting, Thursday night, February 13. 