Decatur Superintendent Sam Houston presented three school calendar proposals Monday that would push spring break into late April during the 2009-10 school year.

Houston gave the proposals to hold spring break April 19-23, 2010, to the Decatur school board Monday at its monthly meeting. He will now seek input during the next month from the board, school officials and teachers, PTAs and the community before making a final recommendation at the board’s Feb. 10 meeting.

Traditionally, Decatur holds spring break in late March, but Houston said that now conflicts with the state’s dates for accountability testing. The two weeks for 2010 testing start March 29.

Houston said one negative in pushing back spring break is that it leaves only about a month in the school year.

The first two proposals start school Aug. 11, while the third’s proposed start date is Aug. 14. All three hold Christmas break Dec. 18 through Jan. 5 and include a snow day April 2 (Good Friday). All three end school May 27 with Austin High School’s graduation May 28 and Decatur High School’s graduation May 29.

Fall break

Proposal 1 includes an Oct. 12 fall break and a full week for Thanksgiving.

Proposal 2 includes a two-day fall break Oct. 12-13 and three days for Thanksgiving.

Proposal 3 starts school later, eliminating the fall break and allowing only two days for Thanksgiving.

On the Net

For the three proposed Decatur City Schools calendars for the 2009-10 school year, click the links below: