The proposed Watertown school calendar has the first day of class after Labor Day, which means Sept. 8.
The School Committee heard the first reading for the 2015-16 school calendar Monday night. Superintendent Jean Fitzgerald said school traditionally starts after Labor Day, but in an effort to shorten the school year she has added professional development days before the first day for students.
“I am proposing we front load professional development days by having three from Sept. 1 to 3,” Fitzgerald said.
Fitzgerald said she did not want to put more professional days before the first day of school so staff would have opportunities for training throughout the year.
A parent who spoke during the public forum section of the meeting said she hopes in future years the calendar could be decided by December so that parents can make plans for camps and vacations.
If the district has five snow days, the last day of school would be June 28, 2016, Fitzgerald said, and if there are no snow days the final day would be June 21.
The School Committee will vote on the calendar at its next meeting on April 6.
Additional Day
The snow-filled winter has led to six snow days for Watertown students. The final day would be June 30, but Fitzgerald wanted to build in an extra snow day.
To build in a buffer, the School Committee voted to have a half day of school on April 3 – Good Friday. If the School Committee did not approve the extra day and it did snow enough to cancel school students would have to have a school either on a Saturday or during April vacation.