The 2018-19 school calendar for Boyle County has been approved, with opening day for students set on Aug. 15.

This year, a big change in the calendar process came from KRS 158.070, passed into law this year, which requires a committee be developed in each school district to develop the district calendar. The committee must consist of a principal, a board of education member, two parents, one elementary school teacher, one middle- or high-school teacher, two classified employees and two community members.

“They built a great calendar,” said Superintendent Mike LaFavers of the Boyle committee’s work.

LaFavers said stakeholders such as parents and district staff had given their feedback on the calendar, too.

“The only thing I think that’s a little different from this year’s calendar — I think this year’s calendar worked out great — is the way we’re handling Christmas,” LaFavers said. “I think it’s good — good for our parents and the community.”

Under the 2018-19 calendar, winter break will be two full weeks. The last day of school will be Dec. 21 and the break officially lasts from Dec. 24, 2018 to Jan. 4, 2019. Monday, Jan. 7, 2019, is planned as a staff development day, and Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2019, would be the first day back to school for students.

This school year, students’ last day was Wednesday, Dec. 20. They will return Jan. 4.

Most other aspects of the calendar remained the same, said LaFavers.

“People like the way things are going,” he said.

The 2018-19 calendar has students beginning school on Aug. 15, 2018. Teachers have four professional development days built in to the calendar before that — Aug. 3, 6, 7 and 8, 2018. Two staff development days will be Aug. 9 and 10, 2018. Opening day for staff will be on Aug. 13, 2018; Aug. 14, 2018, is a holiday for everyone.

The first break for students will be Labor Day, on Sept. 3, 2018. Fall break is planned for Oct. 8-12, 2018. A staff development day is planned for Nov. 5, 2018, which will be a day off for students. Thanksgiving break will fall Nov. 21-23, 2018.

Students are off Jan. 21, 2019, which is Martin Luther King Jr. Day. And they’re off Feb. 18, 2019 (Presidents Day) and March 15, 2019, a staff development day. Spring break is April 1-5, 2019. The last day scheduled for students is May 22, 2019. May 23, 2019, will be closing day for teachers.

There is room in the calendar for four make-up days.

The board approved the calendar unanimously.