Dear Members of Our School Community:

This year the Albemarle County School Board extended the school year to June 12th to compensate for lost instructional time when schools were closed due to adverse weather conditions. This extension allowed us to meet state requirements and was consistent with the policy we announced when the school year began back in August.

At our regularly scheduled meeting on Thursday, May 8th, the Board will be making a decision on how makeup days will be designated for the 2014-15 school year. Based in part upon the views of community members who responded to our recent online survey, we are considering using dates during the school year as makeup days rather than relying solely upon an extension to the year.

These dates, in order of priority, are January 20; February 16; April 3, 6 and 7; and June 8 and 9. The April 3rd date is the Friday before Spring Break, and April 6th and 7th are the first two days of next year’s Spring Break.

Many of you have taken the time to write to the Board with your comments and suggestions on next year’s calendar, and your input has been helpful to us as we work through our decision. At our meeting on May 8th, which is at 6:30 p.m. in the county office building at 401 McIntire Road in Charlottesville, you will have another opportunity to offer your thoughts on the calendar before the Board makes its decision.

We recognize that important family plans often are based upon the school calendar, and I hope will you will take the opportunity to share your views with us, either in writing or in person on May 8th. We look forward to, and value, hearing from you.

Sincerely,

Ned Gallaway, Chair
Albemarle County School Board