The first day of school for Eastern Pulaski students will be a bit later the next two years. Under the 2019-2020 school calendar approved by the school board Monday, students’ first day of class will be Wednesday, August 14, while the last day will be Friday, May 29.
Superintendent Dan Foster explained that various options had been presented to teachers and community members for feedback. “Last week, we put a little poll up, and we threw it up in Google Forms and kind of let them vote through there and kind of had some feedback through there,” he explained. “Some of them voted and still sent an email, pros and cons. Regardless of what we do, somebody’s not going to be happy. You can’t fix that.”
Next year’s calendar also moves the two built-in makeup days from February to two Fridays in May. Foster said concerns were raised that makeup days are currently too early. Students will also have one week off in October for fall break and two weeks off for Christmas break.
Board members also approved a 2020-2021 calendar, which is similar. It calls for a first day of class on August 12, 2020 and a last day on May 31, 2021.
Foster said that while school officials try to incorporate as many suggestions as possible, their first goal is to do what’s best for the students. “I was not a good student, and I will fight for those not good students because I do not think we should end a semester after Christmas break,” he said. “I think that’s very difficult for students. You’re gone for two weeks, you come back for a couple days, you do some reviews, and you take final exams. If that was a good idea, colleges would be doing that.”
Foster added that while it’s helpful to match the Logansport Community School Corporation’s calendar since special needs and career center students take classes there, it doesn’t drive the final decision.
