A committee comprised of district administrators, union representatives, instructional and support staff, parents and clergy met on October 5, 2010 and November 8, 2010 to review calendar requirements, review the draft calendars, and develop a preliminary calendar. 

The major change from the current calendar is the location of spring break.  Spring break on the 2010-11 calendar is March 7-11, 2011 and is aligned with the Sarasota School District and the State College of Florida.  Two draft calendars are provided as attachments: 

• On the 2011-12 Spring Break April Calendar, spring break is April 2-6, 2012 and is not aligned with the Sarasota School District and the State College of Florida. 
• On the 2011-12 Spring Break March Calendar, spring break is March 12-16, 2012 and is aligned with the Sarasota School District and the State College of Florida.

The Calendar Committee recommends the 2011-12 Spring Break April Calendar.  This would bring Good Friday into the spring break and, with the end of the third quarter Record Day, be a better fit for our schools. 

This spring, Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT) testing begins on April 11, 2011.  The following year, FCAT testing begins on April 16, 2012.

Parents, students, administrators, teachers, and members of the community were given 30 days to offer input regarding the proposed academic calendar. Notices and copies of the draft calendar were sent to newspapers, to the teachers’ union, and to each school with information about how to provide input. This information was also posted on the District website.

The adopted calendar will be sent to all departments and posted to the district website with both an English and Spanish version.

The Superintendent recommends approval of the 2011 – 2012 Spring Break April Academic Calendar.

Motion and approval of the 2011 – 2012 Academic Calendar.

None

Curriculum and Instruction / Coordinator of School Leadership Development

Lynette Edwards / Mike Wilder / jp

02/14/11