Academic Calendar Approved

For Next Two School Years

By Larissa Lytwyn

The school board approved the academic calendar for the 2004-05 and 2005-06 school years on a 5-1 vote during its last meeting March 18. Board member Thomas Gissen declined to support the calendar because of his desire to condense the February and April vacations into a single week in March.

“The [March] vacation was done in Ridgefield when I lived there,” Mr Gissen said, explaining that rates at ski lodges and other destinations tended to be cheaper during the low-tourism month.

Assistant Superintendent of Schools Alice Jackson pointed out that the Connecticut Academic Performance Test (CAPT) was typically conducted the third week of March.

Mr Gissen replied that the vacation could take place two weeks before the testing so that students could still have a week to prepare after returning.

But Superintendent of Schools Evan Pitkoff was wary of creating such a change. Usually, he said, changes were based on whether the result would be an “educational improvement.”

“While as an educator I always strive to improve our district,” he said, “this is one instance where the [dictum] ‘If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’ may apply.”

Board Secretary Andy Buzzi and Vice Chair Lisa Schwartz agreed.

Discussion also arose over a proposal to substitute a staff development day on Friday, March 11, in 2005 and Friday, March 17, in 2006 instead of its usual date on Columbus Day.

The March date was considered because of the typically close span of time between the October and November staff development days.

Board Chair Elaine McClure suggested, however, that many parents are off from work themselves on Columbus Day. A date in the middle of March could make it more difficult for parents to find child care. The Board unanimously agreed to change the staff development day back to its original Columbus Day date.

The 2004-05 school year will begin Tuesday, August 31, and will end approximately Monday, June 20. The 2005-06 school year will begin Tuesday, August 30, and will end approximately Monday, June 19.