Forsyth approves school calendar

Forsyth County Schools would begin at the start of August and wrap up before Memorial Day under a 2017-2018 student school calendar OK’d by the Forsyth County Board of Education.

The board approved an Aug. 3 start of school and a May 25 finish at its Nov. 17 meeting. The calendar also includes a weeklong fall break starting Sept. 25, a Nov. 20 start for a weeklong Thanksgiving break, a Dec. 21 first semester finish and winter break from Dec. 22 through Jan. 4.

The second semester includes spring break the week of April 2. Deputy school superintendent Joey Pirkle says that lines up with other metro Atlanta school districts.

Pirkle says more than 50 percent of students and parents endorsed the calendar proposal when the district sought feedback, with more than 70 percent approval from staffers and the community at large. He told board members the main concerns of parents included not wanting to start school too early, but also wanting the fall break. He said some also wanted a full week’s break in February.