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U-46 considers Aug. 13 start for next school year

Elgin Area School District U-46 officials are considering starting the school year a week earlier, on Aug. 13.

Officials are seeking public input on the proposed calendars for the 2014-2015 and 2015-2016 school years. The school board will review the draft calendars at its March 3 meeting.

“It basically balances out the semesters,” district spokesman Patrick Mogge said.

Classes began Aug. 19 for this school year.

With the new calendar, the first day of classes will be Aug. 13 in 2014-2015, and Aug. 12 in 2015-2016.

“It shifts the start date by three actual school days, moving it from a Monday to a Wednesday,” Mogge said

The proposed calendars move the start of early childhood classes with other district classes so that students in all grades, from preschool through high school, start school on the same date. In recent years, early childhood classes started a week later than the rest of the district's classes.

The main impetus to shifting the school year earlier for everyone is ensuring the first semester ends before winter break, Mogge said.

“That was a major shift last year,” he said. “We adjusted this current school calendar based on some community feedback and at the same time we posted the 2014-15 calendar. We're communicating out to families and various stakeholders.”

Mogge said all feedback provided on the district's website will be forwarded to the school board for review.

The calendars are posted in English and Spanish on the district's home page. U-46 staff members, students, parents, and community members are encouraged to submit feedback via an online form.

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