Calendar alignment an issue for districts

The boards from the Nespelem and Grand Coulee Dam school districts districts met jointly last week, in another of what have become quarterly meetings.

Concerns were shared about the two districts’ school calendars for next school year. Efforts have been made in the past to get the two calendars as closely aligned as possible.

In this instance, Nespelem Director Jolene Marchand stated, Coulee Dam passed its calendar without Nespelem getting to look at it.

At its last meeting, Grand Coulee Dam School District passed a calendar that scheduled school on Columbus Day and did away with a two-day, mid-winter break that has been slated during the state basketball tournament for last few years.

The Columbus Day schedule now would require that the district pay certificated staff time and a half.

The mid-winter break had been approved by teachers prior to the calendar reaching the board.

Board members will have an opportunity to revisit their decision when they meet next Monday at 6 p.m. at the district office in their regular monthly meeting.

Interest in aligning the two district calendars is to make the school schedule more convenient for students and families. Some families have students in both districts and have students home at separate times. A perfect alignment would solve that issue.

Marchand said it was her understanding that the two teacher unions would work together and try to get the schedule synchronized.