The Lawson Board of Education approved the 2023-2024 Academic Calendar presented by Superintendent of Schools Michael Stephenson during their regular January meeting this past Wednesday, January 18.
The calendar resulted from a collaborative effort that sought ideas and feedback from the entire Lawson R-XIV School District staff. Mr. Stephenson stated, “While over the past few years, school districts have had to pivot in their approach to educating students, there is no substitute for face-to-face interaction.” He went on to say, “There is no doubt face-to-face learning is the path which Lawson School District wants to pursue to ensure our students have the opportunity to not only learn content but also communication and conflict resolution skills.”
Additional focus in modifying the 2023-2024 Academic Calendar came from respecting parents and their need to plan ahead. The new calendar does this by preserving a set start and end date while preserving all scheduled non-student days, including 3-day weekends such as MLK Day and Presidents Day, and ensuring the magic of a “Snow Day.”
The 2023-2024 Calendar structure was modified to add 3 minutes to the calendar day. This simple change ensures that classes will start on Tuesday, August 22, and the year will conclude on Friday, May 17. It also ensures that all state attendance requirements will be met and any cancellation for weather will not need to be made up, nor will the District need to utilize an Alternative Method of Instruction day (AMI), better known as a Virtual Learning Day.
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