by Cinnamon Dowd

It is official--Candler County students and school staff will have an earlier start to the next school year as the local Board of Education approved the 2012-2013 school calendar during the Feb. 16 meeting.

The decision was not taken lightly as board members tabled the issue in January in hopes of reevaluating both issues of the final day of school and week-long February break.

Changes were presented to the board Thursday, who made a few alterations of their own to reach the final decision.

The official calendar has pre-planning scheduled for July 26-31 for teachers, and students will start school on Wednesday, August 1.

Both studenst and staff will now receive a three day vacation from October 17 to 19, as well as a week for Thanksgiving, and two and a half weeks for Christmas and New Year's holidays.

The February break that concerned the board in January was reduced from one week to two days, and will now have the schools closed a four day weekend from February 15-18.

Reducing the February and October breaks allowed the board to move the last day of school for students up to Friday, May 17. Faculty will conclude on Tuesday, May 21.

Board members strived to make the calendar as operational and appealing as possible, as much input was gathered from the staff.

"Almost 80% of the teachers who voted on the calendars were in favor of the earlier start," explained School Superintendent Dr. Tom Bigwood.

The main selling point, according to many administrators was the October break.

Courtesy of Metter Advertiser