School calendar
heads for full vote

A Board of Education panel
approves the unified calendar

CORRECTION Thursday, July 14, 2005 » The proposed 2006 uniform school calendar published on Page A6 and a graphic on Page A1 yesterday had errors or did not detail some holidays and teacher institute or planning days. Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Labor Day were not shown as days off; another holiday, Kuhio Day, will fall during a spring recess. The article incorrectly said the winter recess would start Dec. 21, instead of Dec. 20 as proposed. Also, there will be an additional student day off on teacher institute day sometime from Oct. 9-13. Students will have four days off for teacher planning; those days have yet to be selected. The Honolulu Star-Bulletin strives to make its news report fair and accurate. If you have a question or comment about news coverage, call Editor Frank Bridgewater at 529-4791 or email him at corrections@starbulletin.com.

'1-3-2' in hawaii Key dates in the state's uniform school calendar to be introduced next year. July 25: First day for teachers July 27: First day for students Oct. 2-6: Fall recess Dec. 21-Jan. 10: Winter recess March 19-30 : Spring recess June 7: Last day for students June 8: Last day for teachers

For three years, Ruby Lee has been forced to juggle not only her own work schedule, but the divergent calendars of her son and daughter, who are in different Waipahu public schools.

But she's got just one year of that left.

A Board of Education committee recommended yesterday the board approval of a draft 2006-07 school calendar, the first uniform statewide school calendar in more than 10 years.

The arrangement calls for the school year to begin July 27 for students, provides a one-week break in October, three weeks off for Christmas, and a two-week spring break. The year will end on June 7 for students, who will have a six-week summer break.

"It's about time," said Lee, a registered nurse. "We haven't had a truly satisfying family vacation in three years. One of us was always in school or other activities or unable to get off work."

The Committee on Regular Education had endorsed the concept of the so-called "1-3-2" break system last month but the dates had not been finalized. Key dates in the calendar will change slightly each year.

The Legislature passed a law mandating a single school calendar last year.

The Department of Education says it will help alleviate problems in coordination payroll, student transportation and other administrative issues, while parents have complained about conflicting family schedules.

The "1-3-2" option garnered the most overall support of five calendar proposals in a statewide survey handed out earlier this year to staff, parents and students.

Charter and multitrack schools are exempt from the single-calendar requirement.

The calendar won't come before the full Board until completion of a 45-day period in which affected constituencies, including the state teacher's union, may review and challenge the calendar.

However, the union has already signed off on substantially the same calendar dates, said Greg Knudsen, spokesman for the Department of Education.

To view an image of the proposed school calendar, click here.