Students at Daviess County Public Schools will officially return to school Aug. 26 for the 2020-21 academic year, and 15 minutes will be added to the end of each day of instruction. The previous start date would have been Aug. 12.
Officials with Owensboro Catholic Schools, as well as Trinity and St. Mary of the Woods in Whitesville, confirmed they will also begin Aug. 26. Their school days will be extended as well.
Owensboro Public Schools officials are discussing a delayed start date, but no plans are definite just yet.
Daviess County Public Schools
The DCPS Board of Education approved the calendar changes Thursday. The revised calendar also includes the removal of Sept. 25 as a professional development day (students will be in school on that date).
The slight extension to each school day will allow the district to meet mandated instructional hour requirements without adding additional days to the calendar. Elementary schools will start at 7:40 a.m. and end at 2:35 p.m., while middle and high schools will begin at 8:10 a.m. and end at 3:30 p.m.
The revisions are designed to provide flexibility in responding to a potential resurgence of cases of COVID-19.
Dates for Spring Break, Fall Break, Thanksgiving Break and Christmas Break remain unchanged. As previously announced, students will return to classes on Jan. 5, 2021, after Christmas Break.
The last day of school for students remains unchanged at May 21. As always, that date is subject to change to make up days missed for inclement weather or other reasons.
The delayed opening will provide additional time for the district to communicate with families and the community regarding requirements that will allow schools to operate in a safe environment.
These recommendations were developed through the ongoing work of the DCPS Reopening Task Force. These revisions comply with requirements established by the state.
The revised 2020-21 calendar is available by clicking here.
Owensboro Catholic Schools
OCS announced on Tuesday they would also delay their start date to Aug. 26, meaning their calendar will match that of DCPS as it has done in years past. The days of instruction will also be extended at OCS, though the amount of time is not known yet. That information will be released when it becomes available.
Whitesville schools
Trinity High School and St. Mary of the Woods confirmed Thursday they will delay their start date to Aug. 26, meaning their calendar will match that of DCPS as it has done in years past. An additional 15 minutes will be added to each day.
Owensboro Public Schools
OPS could have a hybrid model and a delayed start date for the upcoming school year, but no plans are definite just yet. They are still slated to begin on Aug. 12, but officials said the idea of pushing that date back would be discussed at the next board meeting, which is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. June 25
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