Obion County Board of Education
February 4, 2013

Background Information:

click here to view School Calendar for the 2013 - 2014 School Year

The school calendar committee met to discuss a proposed school calendar for the 2013 – 2014 school year. This committee met diligently, bringing various ideas to the meetings from their respective schools for discussion. Members of this year's calendar committee were:

Black Oak – Lana Davis
Hillcrest – Travis Johnson
Lake Road – Teresa Sadler
Obion County Central – Linda Crigger
Ridgemont – Ruth Ann Sparkman
South Fulton Elementary – Melissa Merritt
South Fulton Middle/High – Leah McFarland

As in the past, the notations on the school calendar for “75th Day of School 1st Semester,” “150th Day of School,” and “75th Day of School 2nd Semester” are for informational purposes only. There is no State law or State Board of Education Regulation that requires students to be in school any length of time before testing; however, “unofficial” research does indicate that students perform better on the state mandated TCAP tests if the students have been exposed to 150 days of instruction. In addition, state law now provides that TCAP tests do not have to be administered until after 150 days of instruction further emphasizing that the 150 days of instruction prior to TCAP testing has some merit. Keeping with this research theory, every attempt was made to ensure high school students were exposed to 75 days of instruction prior to AYP/EOC exams. Since the Board adoption of block scheduling, being in school for 150 days before TCAP testing has not been an issue; however, I have not taken the aforementioned notations off of the comments section of the school calendar.

The committee voted unanimously to recommend the school calendar for the 2013 – 2014 school year for Board approval. Every school administrator and teacher had an opportunity to vote on the proposed school calendar and overwhelmingly approved it on the first vote (243 out of a possible 280 votes or 86.8%). The proposed school calendar has 175 school days, students are in class until December 20th prior to the Christmas break, and students are in school approximately 2 weeks after the mandated testing windows.

At the Board's January meeting, May 30, 2014 was set as the date for graduation and this date is so noted on the attached school calendar for the 2013 – 2014 school year.

Staff Recommendation:

On behalf the of calendar committee, I recommend approval of the school calendar for the 2013 – 2014 school year.