Students in the Wright City R-II School District will open the 2012-13 school year on Monday, Aug. 13. Classes, meanwhile, will conclude on Friday, May 17, if two built-in makeup days are needed. The school board unanimously adopted the calendar at last Thursday’s meeting. It had reviewed the proposed calendar at its previous meeting Feb. 23. Similar to recent years, the calendar includes built-in snow days and having early-release days on Wednesdays. Dr. Chris Gaines noted that the schedule is similar to how the current school year’s was put together. The 2012-13 school year could be shortened if the two built-in makeup days don’t have to be used. If only one of the days is unused, then the final day of school will then be Thursday, May 16. If both built-in days are unused, the school year will conclude Wednesday, May 15. Other makeup days that have been scheduled are on Jan. 21 (if needed by Jan. 8), Feb. 18 (if needed by Feb. 12) and April 1. Additional makeup days, if needed, will be tacked onto the end of the school year. Meanwhile, this will be the third year in a row the district releases students 50 minutes early each Wednesday to allow time for staff development. Gaines said opinions from teachers and parents have been mixed on the schedule structure, but data has supported keeping the schedule the same. “Academic results have been positive since we’ve done that,” he said. The first semester will conclude Friday, Dec. 21, with Christmas break following from Dec. 24-Jan. 2. Classes will resume Thursday, Jan. 3. Spring break is scheduled for March 25-April 1, with classes resuming Tuesday, April 2. Graduation will be held Sunday, May 19. Other days the district won’t be in session include Sept. 3, Sept. 28, Oct. 19, Oct. 22, Nov. 21-23, Jan. 21 and Feb. 18. To view the 2012-2013 school calendar, visit the district’s website at www.wrightcity.k12.mo.us and search under public board packets on the board of education page.