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On Wednesday, Chambers County School Board released the 2024-2025 school year calendar, which was voted on by staff and parents. Only one remote learning day is scheduled for next school year.

Parents and CCSD staff were given the opportunity to vote on three calendar choices, which were created and approved by the district’s principals. At Wednesday’s school board meeting, option 3 was announced as the winner of the most votes and approved by the board. 

The main differences between the three options were start dates and remote learning days. Option one had only 15.4% of the votes, while Option 2 received 40.9%. The winner, Option 3 received the majority with 43.6% of all votes from the staff members. 

While the other options contained either two remote days or one full remote day with one half remote day with the second half being reserved for professional development.

“That was probably the most beneficial to the principals and teachers in the district because it felt a week after the first report card. So is the most critical time when we can connect with parents and make interventions with our kids.”

The E-learning day will take place on Oct. 19. Aside from holidays and breaks, there will be three other days and one-half day off for students for Staff Work/Personal Development Days during the year. 

Chambers County students will have their first day of school on Aug. 7, and their last on May 22. However, seniors will be ending earlier. Valley and LaFayette High Schools will have its graduation ceremonies on May 19 and 10, respectively. Inspire Virtual Academy graduation will be on the 16th. 

At the meeting, Assistant Superintendent David Owen presented the winning calendar. He reminded those present that this year was the first year in some time that there was a whole week off for the Thanksgiving holiday. 

“The feedback from that was very favorable from people across our school district, both families and staff alike. So all three drafts had the weeks at Thanksgiving break,” Owen said.

This year Thanksgiving break will fall Nov. 25 to 29, and the Winter Holiday break will be Dec. 21 to Jan. 3. The district’s Spring break will be Mar. 24 to 28. 

Casey Chambley, CCSD Superintendent, said that with the severe weather warnings this year, e-learning could be an important tool. 

“It’s turning out that we really need those e-learning days more than we thought … Because you can still get some things done even though it’s not like being in the classroom and being in front of your teacher,” Chambley said.