The 2013-14 school calendar for Okaloosa County will be similar to this year’s if it’s approved.
The proposed calendar has classes beginning Aug. 19 and ending June 5, 2014, according to Ryan Gore, who oversees the calendar committee for the school district.
“We had two (meetings) scheduled, but the committee was able to make a unanimous vote at the first meeting,” Gore said. “The calendar looks basically the same (as this year).”
Students once again will have a week off at Thanksgiving, and the first semester will be divided by winter break, he said.
Elementary and middle schools also will continue to have early-release days once a month, and high schools will have a late start once a month.
Gore said the committee had a few discussions during its meeting, but no other calendar option was proposed.
“There were a few talking points, but nothing of major significance,” he said.
The School Board will vote on the calendar at its meeting Monday. Board members could ask for changes, but that’s unlikely given that the start date of school is controlled by a state law.
The law states that school districts not ranked as high-performing by the Florida Department of Education cannot begin classes any earlier than two weeks before Labor Day.
School districts are designated high-performing only if they meet class size requirements, have no findings in their audit and if all their schools receive a passing grade from the state.
In the summer of 2011, the School Board was forced to change the start of the school year after the district lost its high-performing status because Emerald Coast Career Institute South received an F grade from the state. The school is closed now.
At that time, the school district suggested starting the school year later permanently to avoid any future schedule changes in the summer.
WANT TO ATTEND? The School Board will vote on the calendar during its meeting at 6 p.m. Monday at 120 Lowery Place in Fort Walton Beach.
Contact Daily News Staff Writer Katie Tammen at 850-315-4440 or ktammen@nwfdailynews.com. Follow her on Twitter @KatieTnwfdn.
