Fayette County Board of Education

members are leaning toward not starting school a week earlier in 2003-04,

as has been discussed.

Consensus of the board during

informal discussions as part of a called meeting Monday was a preference

for the first of two calendars proposed by a staff committee, but with

two changes: elimination of a new fall break in September, and thus starting

school in the same week it is currently starting, the second week of August.

Both proposed calendars and

related information are available on the board's Web site, www.fcboe.org.

Click on the Calendars link for information, and board members' e-mail

addresses also are available on the site if you want to comment on the

calendars.

"It's very important to

have that extra week to prepare the schools," said board member Greg

Powers in voicing his objection to the earlier start date with numerous

construction projects going on.

Board Chairman Mickey Littlefield

objected to the September break because of its possible effect on fall

sports. "I just think it would really cause problems," he said,

pointing out that about 20 percent of each school's students are involved

in fall extracurricular activities.

And board member Janet Smola

worried that teachers may not have enough time for summer training and

continuing education with the 10-week summer break proposed in option

one.

But board members liked other

proposals in option one, especially the idea of having a full week off

at Thanksgiving.

The proposed calendar also

sets the winter break between semesters, eliminating the possibility of

homework or projects over Christmas.

Plans are to vote on the 2003-04

calendar at the board's March 18 meeting.

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