STAFFORD — The Stafford County School Board will vote on its 2019-2020 school year calendar at on June 26.
The Board will consider two options for the school year: One would be a pre-Labor Day start. The year would begin on August 12 and conclude in late May.
The second is the usual post-Labor Day start with the year beginning on September 3 and the school year ending  June 14.
School Board members Sarah Chase, Falmouth District, and Holly Hazard, Hartwood District are both open supporters of the earlier start.
“In my opinion, the School Board is charged with ensuring that the required 180 days of instruction (State requirement) for students is implemented with the maximum educational impact for the students,” said Hazard.
“I am trying to base my decision on what I think would be best for student achievement,” said Chase.
The two members are both worried about AP exams, SOL tests, IB tests, and CTE exams. Spring Break would occur in early March and would help Principals and teachers decide on what topics need remediation.
“It seems to me that the best use of the required 180 days would allow more teaching to the classrooms prior to exams and before the testing dates are set at the national and state level,” said Hazard.
“For high school students taking semester-long classes (i.e. 4x4s), they can take their SOLs before winter break,” said Chase. “High school principals would like the additional two weeks of instruction before the AP exams, and thus prefer to start before Labor Day. Elementary school principals tell me that having spring break at that point allows them time to figure out which students will need special remediation moving into the SOLs.”
Many teachers are outspoken and supporting the pre-Labor Day start, according to both board members.
“The teachers who have spoken at the meetings have been in favor and have followed up with their reasons via email,” said Hazard.
Although most teachers support the pre-Labor Day start the parents don’t support it as much according to Chase and Hazard.
“Parents are mixed, I would say it’s about half and half,” said Chase.
“More parents who have directly written to me support keeping the status quo for the most part,” said Hazard.
The other School Board Members could not be reached for a comment.
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