Calendars

May 14, 2010

Littleton Public Schools 2010-2011 school year calendar approved;
District will be closed two additional days due to furlough days; saves LPS $860,000

The Littleton Public Schools Board of Education approved a calendar for the 2010-2011 school year during its May 13, 2010 meeting. As a result of agreement with the Littleton Education Association, two furlough days have been built into this calendar. These furlough days will save the district about $860,000 next year and will therefore help save about 17 jobs in LPS.

Other government agencies are turning to furlough days as a way to reduce budgets and keep people employed. Shortening the school year by two days is not something LPS would consider in better economic times. However, the Board felt that having furlough days was a better budget-reducing option than the alternative, which was to make further cuts to programs and staff. LPS had to cut $7.5 million for school year 2010-2011 as a result of the state and national economic crisis. About $14 million has been cut from the LPS budget in three years.

The needs of families and employees as well as the important work that is being done in schools drove the decisions about when furlough days would be taken. One student instructional day was taken from each semester, which also stays true to the value around having balance between semesters.

As a result:

School will start one day earlier in the fall: Monday August 16.
There will be no school and the district will be closed the entire week of Thanksgiving.
There will be no school and the district will be closed Friday, February 18, which makes President’s Day weekend a four-day weekend.

LPS 2010-2011 School Year Calendar

Testing Dates

Board of Education's Calendar Values
(Board Policy ICA-E)

2010-2011 Calendar Q&A

What is a furlough day?
When there is a furlough day, employees do not work that day and do not get paid for that day.

What happens where there is a furlough day on a day when students are scheduled to be in school?
There is no school, no employees work, and no employees get paid to work that day. The district is closed. Preschools and school-age childcare will also be closed.

How does this calendar affect students?

There will be two fewer school days in 2010-2011 than in the past.
Each semester was shortened by one school day.
All LPS schools still meet state requirements for the amount of time students must be in school.

How does this calendar affect families?

The first day of school is one day earlier.
Students have the entire week of Thanksgiving off.
Students have the Friday prior to President’s Day weekend off, which makes this a four-day weekend.
Families may need two additional days of child care.

How does this calendar affect employees?

All employees will be paid less – the equivalent of two work days.
New teachers will report to work one day earlier – Tuesday, August 10.
Returning staff will report to work one day earlier, Wednesday, August 11.
The first day of school is one day earlier – Monday, August 16
The amount of teacher-preparation days prior to the first day of school remains the same.
The district will be closed the entire week of Thanksgiving.
The district will be closed the Friday prior to President’s Day, which makes this a four-day weekend.
As in previous calendars, all schools will choose one additional teacher contract day before the start of school or after school ends.

How were the furlough days incorporated into the calendar?

The two furlough days are November 23 and February 18. The district is closed both of these days.
In an effort to honor the needs of families and employees and therefore take the entire week of Thanksgiving off, the district will be closed on November 22 as well, and school will begin one day earlier instead, on August 16.

The 2010-2011 school year calendar is also available on all school websites. Hard copies are available at all schools and at the Education Services Center, as well.