DeSoto school board approves school calendar amid warnings

For possibly the last time, DeSoto County students will return to class the first week of August next school year under a 2013-14 calendar approved by board members Monday.

The first day of class for teachers will be Aug. 5, with students set to return on Aug. 8. Fall break will be Oct. 14-15, Thanksgiving break Nov. 27-29 and Christmas break beginning Dec. 23,with teachers returning Jan. 2 and students on Jan. 6.

Students will finish the school year next May 22, while teachers will wrap things up a day later.

Beginning in the 2014-15 school year, DeSoto County students and other Mis- sissippi public school students will get an extended summer break, with classes not beginning until the third Monday of August. But not everyone is cheering about the longer break.

The down side, school officials note, is the loss of holidays during the school year to offset the later start.

Supporters of the later start date pushed the measure through the Legislature last year, arguing that it would generate up to $200 million a year from tourism, especially along the Gulf Coast.

A House measure would have pushed the start date to the fourth Monday of August or later, but a Senate version set the date at the third Monday.

But in North Mississippi, where tourism revenue isn’t as big a factor, the reduced holiday times during the school year are drawing the most attention.

“I think it’s time we talk to legislators — not just our legislators, but legislators all over the state — about this because I don’t think people realize until it comes up that this will mean shorter Christmas and other holidays they won’t have,” said board chairman Ann Jolley.

Schools Supt. Milton Kuykendall also noted the lost holidays before board members voted. Kuykendall said about 14 holidays would have to be eliminated from future calendars, as the law stands currently.

After hearing the warnings about future years, board members unanimously approved next year’s calendar.