Graduation Set For Saturday, May 9

BOARD ALSO APPROVES WEEK-LONG THANKSGIVING BREAK FOR NEXT YEAR

RICK PECK MCDONALD COUNTY PRESS Jamie Haase (left) and Shelli Francisco from Rocky Comfort Elementary and Junior High School were selected as the Employees of the Month for February by the McDonald County School District.
RICK PECK MCDONALD COUNTY PRESS Jamie Haase (left) and Shelli Francisco from Rocky Comfort Elementary and Junior High School were selected as the Employees of the Month for February by the McDonald County School District.

Graduation ceremonies for the class of 2015 at McDonald County High School will be held on Saturday, May 9.

The decision to hold both baccalaureate and commencement ceremonies on a Saturday was announced at Tuesday night's board of education meeting.

For the last several years graduation has been held on Sunday, but with school being over earlier this year than in the past couple of years (because no days were missed for weather), the Sunday needed for graduation is Mother's Day, so school officials instead chose to go with a Saturday evening service.

Baccalaureate services will be held at 6 p.m. with commencement at 7:30 p.m.

School Calendar

The board approved the 2015-2016 school calendar. The first day of school for the year is Aug. 13. The last day of school will be May, 17, 2016. The calendar calls for 174 days for students and 180 for staff.

The major change to the calendar over past years is for the break at Thanksgiving. For the first time in school history, there will be no school for the entire week of Thanksgiving. Classes will dismiss at the end of the day on Friday, Nov. 20 and not be back in session until Monday, Nov. 30.

The Christmas break will begin at the end of the day of Friday, Dec. 18 and resume on Monday, Jan. 4.

School will be out Oct. 22-23 for fall break and there will four-day weekends in February, March and April. Labor Day (Sept. 7) is the other school holiday.

Dr. Mark Stanton, superintendent, said two calendar options were presented to the staff to vote on. He said the one with a week break for Thanksgiving was the choice by a 3-to-1 vote.

Other Business

The board approved a library program evaluation presented by Angie Brewer, assistant superintendent, and librarians from the various attendance centers.

It was noted that circulation is up 100 percent due to several new programs developed by the staff.

"I appreciate the extra effort you and all the aides do," Stanton told the librarians. "I appreciate you and want you to know it."

The board approved keeping at 20 hours per week the minimum number of hours to be eligible for health insurance.

The board was told that a superintendent for the construction of the FEMA safe room/performing arts building at the high school will be selected soon by Nabholz Construction. Once that person is in place, a meeting will be held with school officials to work out plans for student parking and entrance and exit once work begins. Construction is expected to begin by the first of April.

The board selected Dr. Scott Goldstein, board president, as McDonald County's representative to the MSBA Region 9 Board of Directors.

Bills in the amount of $749,631.40 were approved for payment.

General News on 02/12/2015