New calendar includes 2-week Christmas vacation

The St. Charles Parish School Board introduced the proposed 2013-14 academic school calendar, which includes a 2-week break for Christmas vacation.

The proposal would start off the school year on Aug. 12 and summer recess would begin on May 27.

Regina McMillan, spokesperson for St. Charles Public Schools, said the School Board took the unprecedented step of polling community members and teachers on what they would like to see reflected in the calendar before it was drafted by a committee.

In past years, surveys were provided following the creation of the calendar. The survey compiled responses from 1,218 parents and employees.

"We had over 1,200 people respond to the survey and we actually had more parents than teachers this year," Superintendent Dr. Rodney Lafon said.

The biggest change this year is an extension of the winter break.

"Across the board our parents, employees, students and community members all had the same priorities," McMillan said. "The top priority for everybody was a full two weeks for Christmas break."

Students will also have other long breaks throughout the school year including a week off for Thanksgiving and a week off for Mardi Gras.

The plan still has to be ratified by vote at the next school board meeting to be held on Nov. 7.