Members of the Aiken County Board of Education have approved instituting the modified calendar for the 2023-2024 school year.
The March 8 vote came nearly two months after Superintendent King Laurence first brought the proposal to the board.
Before the vote, board member Jason Crane asked again about the impact the change will have on band and athletics.
Laurence said it is likely the summer of 2023 will be difficult.
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“Band directors have shared with us, where they typically have a three week band camp, they may have to adjust that some to insure students have the opportunity to do that,” Laurence said.
Laurence said the schedules for athletics were set by the state so there should be no impact.
The board had delayed voting on the calendar at the Jan. 11 meeting, deciding instead to send a paper survey home to parents and schedule two town hall meetings.
The board approved the calendar Jan. 25 but with one condition: members wanted a comprehensive plan to address several concerns voiced by board members and parents before the modified calendar was instituted. They got their answers during a March 1 special called meeting.
The modified calendar would still have students in school 180 days and teachers working 190 days. The change would be how those days are distributed through the year.
The modified calendar has July 25, 2023, as the first day of school. The Thanksgiving break is Nov. 22-24, 2023. Winter begins Dec. 20, 2023, and students return on Jan. 4, 2024.
There is a new fall break from Oct. 2-13, 2023. The first week will be one of the new intercession periods. Spring break will be April 1-12, 2024. The first week will be the second of the two intercession weeks.
The last day of school will be May 30, 2024.
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The calendar was approved 6-to-1 with Crane voting against it.
In other action, the board approved a contract with MGT Consulting for a demographics and facilities assessment of the county.
Citing the unprecedented population growth in Aiken County, the board anticipated a major impact on the district’s student enrollment and corresponding strain on staffing, facilities and supplies.
“In the past, we’ve been doing demographics studies that we’re fairly inexpensive in scope,” said Dr. Corey Murphy, chief officer of operations and student services for the district. “But this time we’re going to couple that with a facilities use study as well. Look at all our facilities, how we’re using it and project the growth out in the district, as well.”
The district had budgeted $60,000 for the study. However, the bid from MGT Consulting was for just over $261,000. The staff recommended covering the balance with Education Improvement Act Aid-to-District funds.
Dana Lynn McIntyre is a general assignment reporter for The Augusta Press. Reach her at dana@theaugustapress.com
