SCHOOL CALENDAR

SCHOOL CALENDAR

po8210Adopted January 1, 2002Revised October 19, 2023

8210 - SCHOOL CALENDAR

The Board of Education recognizes that the preparation of a calendar for the instructional program of the schools is necessary for orderly educational planning and for the efficient operation of the District.

The Board shall determine annually the total number of hours when the schools will be in session for instructional purposes with students in attendance - including scheduled classes, supervised activities, and approved education options for the upcoming school year(s). When recommending a school calendar to the Board for its consideration and approval, the Superintendent shall analyze and address the factors identified in AG 8210.

At least thirty (30) days prior to adopting a school calendar, the Board shall hold a public hearing on the school calendar addressing topics that include, but are not limited to, the total number of hours in a school year, length of the school day, and beginning and end dates of instruction. "School day" means the time during a calendar day that a school is open for instruction pursuant to the Board-adopted schedule.

When establishing the school calendar, the Board requires that an observance be scheduled each year on or about Veterans Day to convey the meaning and significance of that day to all students and staff. The observance shall be at least one (1) hour or, in schools that schedule class periods of less than one (1) hour, at least one (1) standard class period. The Board will determine the specific activities that constitute the observance in each school in the District after consultation with the school administrators.

While the Superintendent may close schools due to disease, epidemic, hazardous weather conditions, law enforcement emergencies, damage to a school building, utility failure rendering the school building unfit for school use, or inoperability of school buses or other equipment needed for school operations (collectively, "a calamity"), the schools nevertheless must be in session with students in attendance for at least the minimum number of hours required by Ohio law.

The Superintendent is authorized to develop and implement a plan for a virtual education delivery model in order to make up hours in that school year on which it is necessary to close school due to disease, epidemic, hazardous weather conditions, law enforcement emergencies, inoperability of school buses or other equipment necessary to the school's operation, damage to a school building, or other temporary circumstances due to utility failure rendering the school building unfit for use.

Each plan will be designed to ensure a continuity of learning for students during a school closure and will include the following:

  1. a statement that the qualifying school, to the extent possible, will provide for teacher-directed synchronous learning in which the teacher and students are interacting in real-time on a virtual learning platform during the closure;
  2. a description of the District's attendance requirements, including how participation of students be tracked and documented and how the school will reach out to students to ensure engagement during a closure;
  3. a description of how equitable access to quality instruction will be ensured, including for vulnerable populations such as students with disabilities and English Learners;
  4. the process that the District will use to notify staff, students, and parents that the school will be using online delivery of instruction; 
  5. information on how teachers may be contacted during the closure, including via email, telephone, and/or the District’s designated online platforms; 
  6. a description of how the qualifying school will meet the technology-related needs of staff and students for online delivery of instruction.

The maximum number of hours that may be made up in this manner is the number of hours that are equivalent to three (3) school days.

The plan must include the written consent of the teachers' union and address all of the requirements set forth in R.C. 3313.482. The plan must be approved by the Board by August 1st of each school year.

The school calendar and the number of hours of student instruction shall be consistent with the provisions of the collective bargaining agreements entered into between the Board and its employees.

Revised 12/18/08
Revised 5/20/10
Revised 9/15/11
Revised 12/20/12
Revised 11/21/13
Revised 5/15/14

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