The Merrill School Board will be looking for input from parents on whether to include four late-start dates in next year’s school calendar. On those days, teachers would report to work at the regular time, but classes would not start for students until 10 a.m.
The board approved the 2014-15 school calendar last month, but held off on the late-start days for further consideration. Superintendent Walter Leipart said he has spoken with representatives from Merrill’s parochial schools, whose students use the same buses, and got some good ideas from those discussions.
Leipart said administrators are also looking at options for working parents who would have difficulty getting their children to school at a later time.
The 2014-15 calendar increases instruction days from 177 to 179, while reducing spring break to two days off school. The calendar also has open days in the spring built in, to be used for snow makeup days if necessary.
The board will get information out to parents through the schools on the proposed late-start days to get some feedback before taking any other action.