Two holidays, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Presidents Day, will not be used as snow makeup days. Also, two snow days have been built in during spring break if needed. Classes will begin Thursday, Aug. 20, and conclude Friday, May 21. Graduation is scheduled for Sunday, May 16. The first semester will conclude Wednesday, Dec. 23, with classes resuming Monday, Jan. 4. The school board voted 6-0 to adopt the new school calendar. Board member David Wilmsmeyer was absent. The board briefly considered a starting date of Monday, Aug. 17, but elected to begin the school year three days later. Superintendent Dr. John Long said traditionally the district's first day has been on a Thursday, though the current year did begin on a Monday. A second option the board looked at had the school year ending Tuesday, May 18. Under the approved calendar, the first three snow makeup days will be added at the end - May 24-26. Since inclement weather forced several changes this year, students attended school on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Presidents Day. In response to prior calendar issues, Long told the board parents had complained about classes being held on Dr. Martin Luther King Day. The board agreed classes should not be held on both holidays. When the board approved the current calendar, this year's spring break was protected meaning students had the entire week of March 9-13 off without fear of any days being used for a snow makeup. However, the first two days of next year's spring break could be used as makeup days if needed. Next year's spring break is scheduled for March 8-12. "That way if you don't have bad weather, you still have that full week," Board member Dale Schowe said. Board members also voiced their interest in wrapping up the first semester before the Christmas break. During the current school year, final exams had to be completed in January after ice storms forced a couple of cancellations in December. Once classes were in session, Jeremy Way, high school principal, told the board exams had to be pushed back again since a review day also was canceled due to inclement weather. "We had to juggle again," Way said. "In the past, I couldn't remember a year like this." During the discussion on the school calendar, Long pointed out that if the district was going to have a start day at least 10 days before Memorial Day, a public hearing was needed. Those in attendance at last week's meeting were allowed to speak on the issue before the board voted.