Official School Improvement Zone 
                               Calendar 2007-2008


     The Zone Calendar was pulled from both the district and UTD’s web pages due to the fact that the state denied a waiver request to start earlier than the new statute allows. The new statute does not allow any district to begin the school year for students prior to 2 weeks before Labor Day. Therefore, no student can begin school for the 2007-2008 school year prior to Monday, August 20.

     The Joint Calendar Committee met on May 10th in order to resolve the issue with the calendar.  UTD representatives – 5 teachers and 1 staff liaison, were adamant that no teacher lose any Zone days, recess days or compensation. We were able to come to consensus on a calendar that was presented to the School Board at the May 16th meeting, where the School Board voted to approve the calendar and it is now official.  The following information concerning next year's calendar was recommended by the Calendar Committee.

Our recommendation is:

-  Teachers would begin on August 9th

-  The first 5 days would be Professional Development Days for teachers (8/9, 10, 13 are Zone PD days and 8/14, and 15 are teacher planning days that are for PD only). Remember, these 5 days must be planned in advance, proposed to TEC for approval and approved in advance in order for teachers to receive MPPs.

-  Opt days would be Aug. 7 and 8

-  Aug. 16 and 17 would be teacher planning days

-  Students would begin 8/20

-  Other teacher planning days would be: 9/13, 1/16/08, 3/21 and 28, and 6/12 and 13.

-  Legal holidays fall on: 9/3, 11/12, 11/22, 1/21, 2/18 and 5/26.

-  Recess Days would be: 11/23, 12/24 – 1/4/08, and 3/31-4/4/08

-  New Teachers would Report for New Teacher Orientation on Aug. 8.


Official 2007-2008 SIZ School Calendar

Talking Points for SIZ 2007-2008 School Calendar