This January, Virginia Beach City Public Schools (VBCPS) administration will present a recommended 2016-17 school year calendar to the School Board for consideration. Before making a final recommendation, a calendar committee has been asking for feedback from teacher groups, principals and community members.
Beginning today through Dec. 10, the public has the chance to weigh in on three calendar options.
For 2016-17, VBCPS administration heard requests from staff and the community to have a school calendar with more professional development time built in for teachers and staff as well as more time built in that could be used for inclement weather makeup.
In building a school calendar, the year must include 183 instructional days (in accordance with School Board policy) and the school year must start after Labor Day (according to state law). Additionally, graduation dates are set with the Convention Center years in advance.
Those factors considered, the calendar committee created three options:
– Option 1: No change from the current school year’s calendar. The same holidays and breaks are taken.
– Option 2: This option is the same as Option 1 with the exception of one professional development day for teachers, which would be the Friday before teachers’ in-service week
– Option 3: This is the most different from previous calendars. This proposal has two and a half days of professional development built in, and includes adjusted dismissal days for all levels (elementary, middle and high) throughout the school year.
Those interested in viewing the calendars and offering feedback can visit e-Town Hall, the school division’s online forum. All input will be considered when the committee and school administration make their final recommendations. A summary of feedback will be provided to the School Board as part of the calendar adoption process.