Foreseeing financial challenges continuing in the future, school districts throughout the region are seeking ways to cut costs. One such proposal is a standardized school calendar for school districts throughout the region.
Adopting such a calendar could mean cost savings because of the ability to pool resources to provide professional development for staff and faculty and also to provide uniform transportation services to regional schools such as Grasso Tech in Groton and the Regional Multi-Cultural Magnet School in New London.
Stonington is participating in this discussion, although the district has not yet decided whether it will adopt all or even part of the proposed regional calendar.
Some possible benefits of the regional calendar, besides savings of more than $10,000 in transportation costs annually, could be having a fixed graduation date and schools closed on Election Day. One change for Stonington, however, would be the proposed elimination of a week-long February school vacation. A three-day President’s Day weekend is currently proposed.
As discussion continues on this topic, the Board of Education invites public comment on the concept.
