Bellinghame Public Schools

News & Information


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DATE: February 12, 2009 20:16:01 PST

The school year calendars for the 2009-10 and 2010-11 school years have been set, following staff and parent input, work by the District's Contractual Calendar Committee, and action by the School Board at the Feb. 12 meeting. Click here to view calendar dates, such as the start of school and breaks.

While this is part of the teacher-negotiated labor agreement, the school year calendar development process includes survey input collected from families and all staff. Survey results are used by the committee to develop final calendar options for consideration by all Bellingham Education Association (BEA)-represented staff.

The committee used the following parameters to develop the calendars:

  • Provide optimal learning time for students to ensure long stretches of days/weeks for continuous learning.
  • Provide the state-mandated 180 days of school for students, required without a waiver from the State Board of Education.
  • Include, as required by contract, two 90-day semesters and add snow day make-ups to the end of the school year.
  • Plan for two Learning Improvement Days in the calendar -- one before school and one designated as a non-student day during the school year. (State budget reductions may impact Learning Improvement Days.)
  • Include a non-student teacher workday at the semester break.
  • Adjust spring break around the state's testing window.