By Kathy Chaffin
kchaffin@salisburypost.com
The 2010-11 calendar for the Rowan-Salisbury School System is very similar to this year’s calendar.
The Rowan-Salisbury Board of Education voted unanimously at its last meeting to approve the calendar calling for students to start school on Wednesday, Aug. 25, 2010, and get out on Friday, June 10, 2011.
Schools will be closed for students on the following days during the first semester: Sept. 6 for Labor Day; Oct. 1 and 29 for Staff Workdays; Nov. 11 for Veteran’s Day; Nov. 24-26 for Thanksgiving; and Dec. 22-Jan. 3 for Christmas.
Classes will resume for students on Jan. 4. Schools will be closed for students the following days in the second semester: Jan. 17 for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday; Jan. 21 and 24 for Staff Workdays; Feb. 21 for Staff Workday; March 28 for Staff Workday; April 22 for Staff Workday; April 25-29 for Easter and Spring Break; and May 30 for Memorial Day.
All Staff Workdays and Spring Break (April 26-29) are earmarked as possible make-up days for days missed due to inclement weather. All days between Aug. 25, 2010, and June 10, 2011 ó with the exception of Sundays ó may also become a makeup school day or workday, according to the approved calendar.
Since weather is unpredictable, the calendar states that “it is impossible to guarantee that student holidays or staff holidays/workdays will not be changed.” The makeup schedule will be announced as soon as possible after an inclement weather event.
Like this year, the 2010-11 calendar also calls for four early release days on Sept. 30, Oct. 28, Feb. 18 and March 25. Students will be dismissed 2.5 hours earlier than the normal dismissal time, with lunch served before they leave.
Staff will spend the time in professional development sessions at their schools. After-school activities will not begin until the end of the staff workday on these days.
The calendar calls for report cards to be issued on Nov. 9, Feb. 2 and April 6.
A 28-member committee comprised of students, parents, teachers, counselors, administrators, principals, teacher assistants, bus drivers, data managers and clerical personnel developed the calendar for consideration by the board. The calendar adheres to current North Carolina General Statutes and State Board of Education policy.