Christmas won't come early for Chesapeake schools

By Amy Coutee
The Virginian-Pilot
© February 26, 2008

CHESAPEAKE

The School Board on Monday night approved a 2008-09 school calendar with a winter break that starts Dec. 24.

Students will attend school on Dec. 23, which administrators said could become a half-day. This school year, winter break began Dec. 21.

Board members said they were concerned that the late start to the holiday break would cut into travel time and possibly lead to unproductive class time the last two days before vacation.

But based on community, student and employee surveys, it was the calendar option people most wanted to see for next year. Other options had different combinations of vacation, workday and graduation dates.

The 180-day calendar runs from Sept. 2 to June 11, and includes an eight-day winter break, five-day spring break, and no Saturday workdays. The board approved it unanimously.

Also Monday, the board continued to discuss the proposed 2008-09 operating budget and changes to health insurance. Officials likely will need to trim several million dollars from the $436.9 million budget. They are waiting for final figures from the state so they can begin deciding where to make cuts.

The next public hearing is at 7 p.m. March 10, during the regularly scheduled School Board meeting.

Amy Couteé, (757) 222-5216, amy.coutee@pilotonline.com

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Disappointing!

Submitted by got2win1 on Tue, 02/26/2008 at 11:02 pm.

Chesapeake recruited me in 2000 via the career commitment program and boasted the best healthcare and benefits package in the region. Less than a decade later, it looks like there will be a 2nd cut. If money is an issue, why put smartboards in every classroom when less than 1/2 of the teachers will even use them? Quit trying to keep up with, or show off for, Virginia Beach and take care of your employees. In the business world, it is said that a business is only as successful as the people it employs. People come first!!