HOUSTON – Feb. 8, 2019 – The Spring ISD Board of Trustees on Tuesday is slated to vote on the proposed 2019-20 Instructional Calendar that will have students starting classes on Aug. 14, 2019 with the last day of school for students on June 2, 2020.

The proposed calendar is one of two innovative options presented to the staff and the community for input in a survey that drew feedback from nearly 6,000 people. Both options represent a different approach to the traditional school year, with more built-in breaks for teachers and students.

After much consideration, including weighing the results of the survey, district administrators on Thursday recommended Option B for approval. That calendar would create more long weekends throughout the year for students and staff, rather than longer breaks proposed in Option A.

In a presentation to the board on Thursday, Chief of Staff Julie Hill said the longer weekends should help give teachers and students a rest without impacting instruction, athletics or Performing & Visual Arts performances.

Specifically, under the recommended proposal, the Winter Holiday would begin for students on Dec. 20, and end with them returning to school on Jan. 7. Spring break would start March 6, with classes resuming on March 16.

Throughout the year, teachers would have embedded professional development days with no students, including Friday, Sept. 20; Monday, Sept. 23; Monday, Nov. 4; and Friday, Feb. 14.

The Spring ISD Advisory Committee on Education (ACE), which includes staff and teachers, reviewed the calendar proposals presented to the public in the community survey. The proposed calendar meets all state requirements.

Trustees noted that they’d like to see administrators consider adding Veteran’s Day as a holiday in the future so that families can observe the holiday together.

“One thing I enjoy about serving on this board is that we make our decisions on what is best for kids,” said Trustee Justine Durant.