Hancock school board discusses 2024-25 calendar proposals

NEW CUMBERLAND -- The Hancock County Board of Education convened for a series of meetings Monday, holding a public hearing for the 2024-25 school calendar, approving tentative levy rates for the next year and recognizing several of the county's students.

Erica Sauer, director of special programs, and Kristin Bissett, director of secondary, adult and career education, discussed the results of a survey recently conducted to assist in determining the framework of the calendar.

"We had over 1,000 respondents for our survey," Sauer said.

Of those responding, 448 were parents of Hancock County students, 407 were employees of the school district, 169 were students and 55 were other residents with no connection to the district.

Preferences, as shown by survey results, included the first day for staff being Aug. 22, with the first day for students on Aug. 28; Thanksgiving break Nov. 27-29; Christmas break from Dec. 23 to Jan. 3; and Easter break from April 16 to April 22.

In planning the calendar, though, it was determined staff would first report Aug. 20, using the day as time for preparation.

"They want to be in their classroom getting ready," Bissett said, noting the days following would be for curriculum development.

As a result, students would first report on Aug. 26, with the final day for students set on June 4 and the final day for staff on June 13.

In addition, there are plans to include three to four professional development days during the year, leaving six to seven available snow days. Superintendent Dan Enich said preparations for online learning also would be made in the event of excessive snow days beyond those allowed by the state.

"We feel comfortable adding those professional learning days our staff has been asking for," Sauer said.

Christmas break would be planned to have a Faculty Senate day Dec. 20, with school closed Dec. 23 through Jan. 2, a curriculum development day Jan. 3, and school returning Jan. 6. A Spring Break will be held March 19-24, with Easter break having Faculty Senate on April 17 and school being out April 18-21.

Bissett explained it was difficult to provide a full week off near Easter as it would be in the midst of the state's General Summative Testing.

Graduation services have been scheduled for May 28, 2025 at Weir High and May 29, 2025 at Oak Glen.

Final approval by the board will come at a future meeting, with the calendar required to be submitted to the state by May 1.

Also Monday, the board gave approval to the proposed levy rates for the next fiscal year, with Chief Financial Officer Joe Campinelli noting the bond levy is set to bring in $2.3 million with $16.5 million raised through general levy rates. The rates must be advertised twice and then receive a final vote on April 16.

As part of the regular meeting, the school board recognized students from Weir and Oak Glen high schools who were Future Business Leaders of American state conference winners, and members of the OVAC champion Weir High bowling team.

Enich announced there would be no school on Friday or next week as part of the district's Easter break.