Assistant Superintendent Lynn Fuini-Hetten presented a draft of the 2018-2019 calendar for review by board members at the Jan. 29 curriculum and technology meeting.

Orientation for students entering kindergarten, sixth and ninth grades is tentatively planned for Aug. 27. The first day of school for all students is planned for Aug. 28.

Fuini-Hetten said a survey was given to parents regarding snow make-up days and 684 responses were received.

“The responses were 50-50,” Fuini-Hetten said.

As a compromise, Fuini-Hetten said the first inclement weather make-up day would be Feb. 15, 2019 - the Friday before Presidents Day. The Thursday before Easter would be preserved as a day off.

Additional proposed inclement weather days would be June 7, 10, 11 and 12, 2019 - in essence, adding days to the end of the school calendar.

Administrators were asked why there are so many half days at the elementary school level.

Fuini-Hetten said there are fall and spring conferences with parents and it gives elementary school teachers time to work as a team. High school and middle school teachers have department meetings in their schedules.

Directors were told teachers have nine professional development days built into their contract.

Director Susan Lea asked why the students go into school for three days before Labor Day and are then off for four days. “It seems counterproductive,” Lea said.

Superintendent Dr. Randy Ziegenfuss said the district shares services as a county and most schools have the same four day weekend which is one of the influences. The only two districts who start after Labor Day are Parkland and Allentown.

Director Audrey Frick asked if there is any plan to close the schools for the flu outbreak.

“We have a protocol because of closing for whooping cough,” Ziegenfuss said.

Although there are students out with the flu, there was no discussion on closing the schools.