Family of man who died after being shocked with Taser on I-25 sues Larimer Sheriff's deputy
NEWS

Poudre School District changes winter break for 2017-18

Sarah Jane Kyle
sarahkyle@coloradoan.com

Poudre School District students will have more time off before Christmas next school year following Tuesday night's meeting of the district's governing board.

Iszabella Aman slides down a snow pile during recess at Rice Elementary in Wellington on Jan. 12, 2016. The PSD Board of Education has voted to start the district's winter break a day early during the 2017-18 school year.

The PSD Board of Education voted Tuesday to change the district's 2017-18 calendar following complaints about the district keeping students in school through Friday, Dec. 23 this school year. That decision that received a "great deal of negative feedback ... (without solicitation) from every part of our system," according to the PSD Board of Education's agenda packet Tuesday.

At least 10 percent of students skipped class every day that week.

Smyser: How PSD determines if it's a snow day

Next school year, students were poised to stay in school through Friday, Dec. 22 before starting winter break, according to a calendar approved by the board in October. Tuesday night, the board voted unanimously to let students start their winter break a day earlier, finishing class on Thursday, Dec. 21.

"I think the community will appreciate it very much," said Rob Petterson, a PSD board member.

The decision won’t give students an extra day off for the school year. To accommodate the change, PSD staff and students will start the year a day earlier than originally planned. The new start dates are:

  • August 15: First day for new staff
  • August 18: High school transition day
  • August 21: First day for all high school students  
  • August 22: Middle school transition day
  • August 23: First day for all elementary and middle school students 

No other school calendar dates will be affected by the change.

Follow Sarah Jane Kyle on Twitter @sarahjanekyle or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/reportersarahjane.