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Rptr: Gascoyne Date: Feb. 16, 2012 TRT: |
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INTRO: The Chico Unified School board last night adopted the school schedule for the next three years. Reporter Tom Gascoyne has this report.
BODY: The matter has sparked some controversy and discussion from parents who say they think an early fall start shortens the summer too much for families. The board of trustees had heard citizen input at its January 18 meeting and last night was presented with 21 calendar options from which to choose. Seven offered early starts—the second week of August, seven offered mid-starts—the third week of August and seven offered late starts—the last week of August. Within those options were further choices, including Thanksgiving breaks, a full week or just two days, and whether Spring break should fall during Easter or as Butte College and Chico State schedule theirs, with St. Patrick’s Day. The board voted 4-1, with Trustee Jan Reed in the minority, to schedule the mid-start, meaning school starts next fall on August 20, on August 19 the following year and on August 18 the year after that. Thanksgiving in each year will be a week long and spring break will take place the week of St. Patrick’s Day. The last day of school will be, respectively, June 6, June 5 and June 4. A parent named Jenny Merrill had urged the board to adopt a late start and begin on a Tuesday rather than a Monday And after the decision was made, was not happy.
Jenny cut
So this year school begins on Monday Aug. 20, takes a full week break at Thanksgiving, Spring break week begins March 18 and the last day of school is Thursday, June 6. For Northstate Public Radio news, this is Tom Gascoyne in Chico.
