School Board Approves 2010-2011 Calendar

The Darlington County Board of Education approved the 2010-11 school district calendar at their December board meeting. The calendar was developed by a committee of parents, students, community members, teachers, administrators, and district staff, who sifted through the numerous requirements and requests to shape and refine the final calendar.
As required by law, students cannot begin school before the third Monday in August. Darlington County students will meet this requirement by starting on August 16, 2010. Teachers will start earlier, on August 9.
The law also requires that students attend class for 180 days and teachers have 10 days of professional development.
In addition to the legal requirements, the committee took into consideration a wish list from teachers, administrators, students, parents and community members:
• Teachers and administrators asked that the school year start on a Monday or Tuesday.
• School administrators requested three days of in-service before students return so schools would have adequate time to prepare for the school year.
• Employees requested three days off for Thanksgiving.
• Members of the faith communities requested that Spring Break be held the week after Easter. Though the district was unable to provide a full day off on the Friday before Easter (Good Friday) as requested, the committee was able to designate it as a short day. Students will leave before lunch.
• Parents asked that school finish as early in June as possible.
• Parents asked that schools offer parent-teacher conferences in the evening of one day and the morning of the next.
Based on these parameters, the calendar committee developed the 2010-2011 calendar, which was then approved by the board. The school year will begin for students on August 16 and run through the last week of May 2011. The last day of school before the Christmas holidays will be Friday, December 17, 2010.
Twice a year – on October 1 and February 25 - students will be dismissed early so teachers may have dedicated professional development time. The time is not used for housekeeping or faculty meetings, but is instead designed to improve teacher and administrator skills. On October 22 and March 18 students will be dismissed early so teachers can work on report cards.
The inclement weather make-up days for 2010-11 are January 14, February 11, and May 27. Easter Vacation/Spring Break will be used for make-up days if the other designated days are already used or have passed.

Darlington County School District 2010-11 Calendar

JULY
5 INDEPENDENCE DAY HOLIDAY

AUGUST
9-13 NO SCHOOL: Professional development
16 First day of school for students

SEPTEMBER
6 NO SCHOOL: LABOR DAY
16 Full day of school; Parent conferences 4 pm-7 pm
17 NO SCHOOL: Parent conferences (9 am-12 pm) & professional development (1/2 day for teachers)

OCTOBER
1 Early dismissal after lunch, Professional development
19 End of first quarter
19-21 Fall HSAP
22 Early dismissal after lunch, Report card preparation
22-29 Fall HSAP make-up
28 Report cards issued

NOVEMBER
2 NO SCHOOL: PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT (Because this is Election Day, provisions will be made to allow teachers and staff to vote.)
24-26 NO SCHOOL: THANKSGIVING

DECEMBER
20 - 31 NO SCHOOL: CHRISTMAS BREAK

JANUARY
3 Teachers & students return from Christmas Break
tba First semester exams
10 End of second quarter
14 NO SCHOOL: Professional development
17 NO SCHOOL: MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. DAY
20 Report cards issued

FEBRUARY
10 Full day of school; Parent conferences 4 pm-7 pm
11 NO SCHOOL: Parent conferences (9 am-12 pm) & professional development (1/2 day for teachers)
25 Early dismissal after lunch, Professional Development

MARCH
17 End of third quarter
18 Early dismissal after lunch, Report card preparation
24 Report cards issued
tbd PASS testing - Part 1

APRIL
12-14 Spring HSAP
14-29 Spring HSAP make-up
22 Short day; no lunch served
25-29 SPRING BREAK for students & 190-day employees
25-27 SPRING BREAK for 12-month employees

MAY
Tbd PASS testing - Part 2
tbd End of course testing
tbd Senior Exams
tbd Spring exams (grades 9, 10, 11); Short days (No lunch served)
26 End of fourth quarter, Last day for students
27 NO SCHOOL: Professional development
30 NO SCHOOL: MEMORIAL DAY
tbd Graduations