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Classes at local public schools would start a week later in August and end a week later in June if the Steamboat Springs School Board approves a draft calendar Monday night.

Shalee Cunningham, superintendent of the Steamboat Springs School District, said the proposed 2009-10 academic calendar was shifted to accommodate parents' requests that the school year begin closer to Labor Day. The proposed calendar also increases the number of staff workdays from 12 in the current year to 15 for the next two years.

A committee of school staff and community members created the draft calendar, which would become official 30 days after board approval.

The draft calls for students to begin class Aug. 31 and continue until June 11. The calendar retains two weeks for student holiday vacation at the end of December, a weeklong "Blues Break" in February and a week without class after the Steamboat Ski Area closes in April.

Personnel

The board agenda also calls for acceptance of resignations in the school district, including the resignation of Strawberry Park Elementary School gym teacher Sam Rush, who is leaving the district to work for the Colorado Mountain College's Alpine Campus.

Rush's resignation took effect Feb. 5, when she left town to take care of an elderly relative before beginning at CMC.

Allison Sabat is recommended to take her place as a long-term substitute.

The board also is slated to accept Palisade High School science teacher Ken Webbe to replace outgoing Steamboat Springs High School athletic director Richard Lee. Lee left midyear to spend more time with his family.

Cunningham also will present the board with an update of the district's logistical planning process.

A group of community members, administrators, staff, teachers and parents created the plan during the group's first meeting Feb. 26 and 27 to give the district direction in long-term plans. The district now is soliciting volunteers to establish a second set of teams to turn the broad goals into specific action plans for the district to complete within the next five years.