Trustees approve calendar for 2005-06 school year

Cherokee County schools will operate under traditional and year-round school calendars for a second consecutive year.

Alma, Luther Vaughan and Mary Bramlett elementary students will begin year-round school July 14 under a calendar approved by school trustees at Tuesday’s meeting. Students at the district’s other schools will return to class Aug. 22 and operate under the traditional 9-month school calendar.

The year-round school calendars include 3-week intersession breaks where teachers spend time on remediation and enrichment activities with students when classes aren’t in session. The district will operate year-round schools at least two more school years under a federal Reading First Grant. School officials will then decide whether to continue with the year-round school concept.

“The calendars are much like last year. We have a middle-of-the-road start date in August,” superintendent Dr. Bill James said. “Should the state go to a uniform start date for schools, our school year’s start will fit within that window.”

The traditional and year-round calendars were developed so students are off for the holidays at the same time. Students will have Thanksgiving break Nov. 23-25 while the Christmas holidays are Dec. 21-Jan. 3.

The district will observe the Martin Luther King holiday on Jan. 16. Spring break is April 3-7.

Year-round schools will finish their year May 6. The district’s other schools will have their last day of school and high school graduation ceremonies June 6.

Traditional schools

Start August 22, End June 6

Thanksgiving vacation Nov. 23-25

Christmas vacation Dec. 21-Jan. 3

Year-round schools

Start July 14, End May 6

3-week intersession breaks