OSD Board Approves Aug. 10 Start Date for 2020-2021 School Year

By Alyssa Schnugg
News editor
alyssa.schnugg@hottytoddy.com

Students attending Oxford schools will start school a tad bit later this August for the 2020-2021 school year.

On Monday, the Oxford School Board of Trustees approved Aug. 10 as the first day of school for the 2020-2021 school year.

Bradley Roberson, assistant superintendent and director of curriculum, presented the entire proposed academic calendar to the Board for their information; however, the Board’s authority is only to approve the start and end dates.

“The other days are based on operational needs and are subject to further adjustment,” said Superintendent Brian Harvey.

This school year, students returned to school on Aug. 7, a Friday.

“The start date is pushed to Monday, Aug. 10,” he said. “This will allow more time for final preparation for occupying our two new facilities at the start of school.”

The new Fine Arts Building and the new Central Elementary School are slated to be completed by Aug. 1.

“That gives our technology department 10 days to get the wiring done for our data capability done,” he said.

Roberson said he expects some teachers to be unhappy about the new start date since the new school year will start off with a full week of school; however, he said the extra days will help get the new facilities ready for the new school year.

To make up for the later start time, the fall break is cut down to one day, Oct. 12, 2021, – Columbus Day – which gives students and teachers a three-day weekend.

Two designated make-up days are scheduled for April 5, 2021, and May 26, 2021. The last day of school will be May 25, 2021, if the make-up day is not needed on May 26. Students will have off on April 5, 2021, as well as if the day is not used for a make-up day.

In the spring, the district will evaluate and survey staff and parents on the late start days that are used for professional development. Those late start dates are already set for the 2020-2021 academic calendar; however, they are subject to change.