School District Of Oconee County And School Board Considering Change In 2020-2021 School District Calendar For High and Middle School Students

(Seneca, SC)———-According to a press release issued by the School District of Oconee County yesterday, the School District and the Board of Trustees are considering a calendar change for the 2020-2021 school year in which middle and high school students, if approved, would start the next school year one week early.

According to the release, South Carolina law prohibits school districts from beginning the school year before the third Monday in August unless the school district operates on a year-round calendar. The law does grant the South Carolina Department of Education the ability to issue waivers to the starting date based on educational purposes.

Due to instructional issues that the School District is facing, district leadership began considering the idea of starting middle and high schools one week earlier and after discussion and a submission proposal was sent to the Department of Education, the waiver was granted in May.

Surveys sent to district employees and district parents indicated that the majority approved of the change in the start date.

A presentation was made to the School Board last night during their work session and the Board asked Dr. Michael Thorsland, Superintendent of Education, to bring a recommendation to the School Board meeting next week.