Conroe ISD mulls calendar options for 2017-18

The Conroe ISD Board of Directors is encouraging public input regarding three calendar options for the 2017-18 school year.

Deputy Superintendent Dr. Chris Null said the proposals, discussed and narrowed down by the District-Level Planning and Decision-Making Committee, maintain some of the traditional features of the district's prior calendar.

Calendar Similarities

178 days for students

187 days for teachers

Days Off:

Labor Day (Sept. 4)

Thanksgiving Break (Nov. 20-24)

Martin Luther King Jr. Day (Jan. 15)

Presidents Day (Feb. 19)

Spring Break (March 12-16)

Holiday: March 30

However, the options do have their differences:

Draft A Highlights

First day of school: Aug. 28

Winter Break: Dec. 22 to Jan. 8

Last day of school: June 8

Draft B Highlights

First day of school: Aug. 16

Holiday: Oct. 9

Winter Break: Dec. 21 to Jan. 3

Last day of school: May 25

Draft C Highlights

First day of school: Aug. 16

Holiday: Oct. 9

Winter Break: Dec. 21 to Jan. 8

Last day of school: May 31

Community members can view the options and give input through Jan. 9 on the district's website at www.conroeisd.net. Scroll down once on the home page.

"We also considered feedback that we've received in previous years while keeping the instructional impact of the calendar a priority," Null said.

Board member Melanie Bush said the district previously has received feedback on calendars specifically to start and end the school year earlier. However, there were limitations because of having only four Mondays to start school on the August 2017 calendar.

"Right now we are in the feedback stage," Bush said. "We welcome everyone to view Drafts A, B and C. I appreciate the work the (committee) put in on the draft calendars and all the feedback we have gotten from the community."

Null said the committee will review the feedback and recommend one of the options to the board for consideration for approval after Winter Break.

The move is part of the district's plan to become a District of Innovation set forth through House Bill 1842 during the 84th Texas Legislature. Currently, there are 44 Districts of Innovation in Texas, including Humble ISD.

The board decided to include only the flexibility of adjusting the calendar instead of several other local control actions, such as hiring instructors who are not certified teachers, by being a District of Innovation.

"There are benefits to each of the calendars and we look forward to receiving feedback online through our website," Null said. "We are confident that with each of the three calendars the 17-18 school year will be successful."