Mehlville Board Postpones Decision on School Calendar

After calling a special board meeting to vote on one issue—the 2013-14 school calendar—the Mehlville Board of Education failed to come to a decision Monday.

The board voted not to approve the calendar but to meet again with the Mehlville NEA and the calendar committee in order to go over it again. The board approved a measure to postpone a decision until no later than April 18.

The deadline was set at the urging of Superintendent Dr. Eric Knost, who noted that last year's calendar wasn't approved until May.

"There is great interest in knowing when the first day of school is," he told the board. 

The proposed calendar before the board Monday featured the following important dates:

• Aug. 1, 2, 5, 6, 7 new teacher orientation. 
• Aug. 15 — first day of classes.
• Dec. 23 - Jan. 3 — Winter Break
• March 17-21 — Spring Break
• May 21 — Last day of school

The state of Missouri requires a minimum of 174 student contact days on the calendar. In addition, district Board policy provides fora minimum of 196 teacher contract days, which includes student attendance days, 14 paid holidays, six non-pupil attendance days and two conference compensation says.

The currently proposed Spring Break of March 17-21 aligns with South Tech, allowing students who attend South Tech a full five-day spring break. 

See our previous coverage:

• Board and Teachers Clash on School Calendar Length
• Mehlville School Board Approves 16 Additional Hours of Student Instruction in 2011-2012