Proposed KLSD 2013-14 Calendar Discussion Postponed

A discussion and potential approval of the proposed 2013-14 calendar for the Katonah Lewisboro school district has been pulled from Thursday's school board agenda, school officials said.

"This item was pulled in order to provide us some additional time to consider further options that  we may have regarding the calendar. While  I cannot predict whether any revisions will occur, it seemed prudent to give it one more look to be sure we're comfortable moving forward," said Scott Persampieri, assistant superintendent for human resources, in an email to Patch.

The proposed calendar, which was posted to the district's website on Monday (posted with this story) included a Sept. 9, 2013, start date. It also included a long weekend—starting on a Friday and ending the following Tuesday—instead of a full week of February recess the district has had in the past several years, except for this year when the district did not schedule a full week of February break due to various calendar and contractual issues. The board considered eliminating the break altogether before many parents protested the cut vacation days.

Persampieri said the initial calendar design fit in the required 180 days of instruction—mandated by New York State—plus five days of professional development and four weather reserve days, which the district is contractually obligated to include as a result of collective bargaining agreements.

He said other scheduling issues that affect the calendar are state requirements that schools do not hold instructional days on Saturdays, other legal holidays or
in July or August. Nor can school session days be held after the last Regents Day in June.

In addition, he said, collective bargaining agreements do not allow for staff to be brought in prior to Labor Day.

Persampieri said the calendar would likely be included in the March 21 board of education meeting.

Editor's note: The story initally said the district shortened the Feb. break to two days this year due to weather-related closures; we have amended the copy to indicate there was not a full week scheduled this year.