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Steamboat School Board adopts 2012-13 calendar

Scott Franz

2012-13 school calendar highlights

Aug. 29: First day of school

Oct. 5: Staff professional development day

Nov. 8: Parent-teacher conferences

Nov. 9: No school

Nov. 21-23: Thanksgiving break

Dec. 24-Jan. 4: Winter break

Jan. 18: Staff work day

Jan. 21: Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Feb. 8: Staff professional development day

Feb. 18-22: Blues Break

March 14: Parent-teacher conferences

March 15: No school

April 12: Staff professional development day

April 22-26: Spring break

May 27: Memorial day

June 8: Graduation

June 12: Last day of school

— After little discussion, the Steamboat Springs School Board on Monday night adopted a calendar for the district’s 2012-13 school year.

The board voted unanimously to adopt a calendar that nearly is identical to the one used this school year, with the only differences being the scheduling of parent-teacher conferences Nov. 8 and the transition of Soda Creek and Strawberry Park elementary schools from a quarterly to a trimester schedule next school year, a move principals at both schools said would allow parents to receive more timely report cards on their students.

The selected 2012-13 calendar was chosen over an alternative draft that would have scheduled two days of parent-teacher conferences Nov. 19 and 20, immediately before the start of Thanksgiving break on Nov. 21.



The district posted the two calendars online early last month and invited feedback from the community. It received more than 80 comments from parents, teachers and community members about the two calendars.

According to a tally released by Superintendent Brad Meeks, most of those who provided feedback favored the calendar adopted Monday by the School Board.



Noting the calendar for next school year was adopted a month earlier than the 2011-12 calendar was last year, Meeks said he would like the board to soon adopt a calendar for the 2013-14 school year.

“I think it’s a benefit to the community when these calendars come out earlier,” he said. “Ideally, I would like the board to approve the 2013-14 calendar for the district before the end of this school year.”

Based on comments the district received during the calendar review process, the board said its discussion on future calendars would likely focus on whether to shorten, eliminate or reschedule Blues Break, a weeklong break from school that next year is scheduled to run from Feb. 18 to 22.

Board member Robin Crossan suggested the district spend two months reaching out to parents and members of Steamboat’s business community to determine whether tweaking Blues Break would be a good idea.

Also at Monday’s meeting, the School Board:

■ Voted unanimously to sign a memorandum of understanding with the Colorado Department of Education to participate in its “Race to the Top” campaign. The campaign has the potential to grant $6,230 to the Steamboat Springs School District.

■ Authorized the district to spend up to $50,000 of its capital reserve budget to replace outdated light fixtures at Steamboat Springs Middle School and Strawberry Park Elementary School. Pascal Ginesta, the district’s director of maintenance operations and transportation, estimated the light replacement project would cost $16,000 at the elementary school and $22,000 at the middle school. A sparking and defective light fixture in the atrium of Strawberry Park was blamed for a Dec. 17 fire that ignited an ivy plant. Ginesta said new bulbs would be 50 percent more energy efficient.

To reach Scott Franz, call 970-871-4210 or email scottfranz@SteamboatToday.com


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