An examination of the school calendar for Star Valley schools has the board looking for questions, comments or concerns as they prepare for an October 1 work session.

Superintendent Matt Erickson spoke with SVI as a follow up to the September board meeting where several different ideas were presented to them as potential considerations for the students in the area.

“These aren’t even proposed at this point, they are conceptual ideas,” he noted. “If people would like to offer input or feedback, we welcome that.”

Erickson described that several years ago, Star Valley High School had a study completed to examine how they could have students involved in extracurricular activities in front of certified teachers more often on what are called high-use Fridays. These days are days when events or games or other activities draw a large number of students and staff out of the building.

“So, we went to a hybrid calendar,” Erickson said. Taking certain Fridays off. Then a couple years later the community wanted to have the same calendar for all schools and unified it and we have been on that since 2016.”

As noted in the most recent board meeting, each option brings different considerations. For example, a true four-day week would require longer days and other operational needs such as an earlier pickup for students in Alpine and Smoot. Those who feel they have questions they would like addressed are encouraged to contact the school board who are prepping for a work session on October 1 from 6-8 p.m. prior to the regular October 8 board meeting.

“The current calendar is not perfect but we are meeting the vision of the district with high learning and academic learning for our goal,” Erickson emphasized during the same interviews which highlighted Star Valley test scores were among the highest in the state. “We are getting achievement results but there is still a desire to examine the calendar and see if we are meeting student needs as well as we can.”

Those wishing to contact the school board may do so via e-mail at schoolboard@lcsd2.org.

“The board has a lot to sort though and they have a lot of questions and are being very deliberate in their process,” Erickson concluded. “They are going to make the very best decision with students in mind.”