By Elizabeth Gwilt
Admitting to an oversight, the Hillsborough County School Board last week made yet more changes to the school calendar.
After the board passed a new calendar earlier this month that included 15 early release days and a last day of school that fell on a Monday, members met again to edit the calendar.
Fearing a large percentage of absences, members approved a compromise that pushes the last day of school up to a Friday, June 10.
And in response to parental backlash about the early release days, the board also slashed two from the slate, leaving 12 days in which students will depart two hours early. On the last day of school, students are dismissed 2½ hours early.
The board will also turn Feb. 11, the Florida State Fair student holiday, into a teacher workday.
Hillsborough High School sophomore Manash Ramanathan of Lutz is satisfied with the board’s decision.
“It was smart of them to move the last day to a Friday. There’s no way anyone would come to school, unless they had exams. Most people would probably leave for vacation anyway,” Ramanathan said.
Revised early release schedule
Sept. 15
Sept. 29
Oct. 13
Oct. 27
Nov. 10
Dec. 8
Jan. 12
Jan. 26
Feb. 9
Feb. 23
March 23
May 11
June 10*
[*All days two hours early except last day of school on June 10, which is 2½ hours]
