School Board Approves Proposed 2011-2012 Calendar

A proposed school calendar that would create five new in-service half-days for the 2011-12 school year, potentially saving the district thousands of dollars, was unanimously approved by the West Deptford school board Monday night.

The switch is designed to reduce teachers’ time away from the classroom, Superintendent Kevin Kitchenman said, but can also save the district between $35,000 and $40,000 in substitute costs.

“The goal...is to take care of some of the regular monthly school business activities that take place with our staff, which requires a substitute to be in the room for half a day,” he said.

The proposal would add those five additional half-days in months where the district hasn’t already planned a half-day or full-day in-service.

The 2011-12 school year has a planned start of Sept. 6 for teachers and Sept. 8 for students, which Kitchenman said was based on the current contract’s stipulation that teachers can’t start work before Labor Day.

Kitchenman said that, should new contract negotiations change that start date, the calendar could be adjusted as necessary.