WARSAW — Warsaw Community School Corporation has released the calendar for the 2016-2017 school year. The calendar, which was discussed in detail during meetings of the WCS calendar committee, made some small changes in regards to seeking a later start to the school year.

In what Dani Barkey, chief accountability officer for WCS, described as record timing, the calendar committee only required two sessions to reach a final draft for both the 2016-2017 and 2017-2018 school years. During the December WCS regular board work session, Barkey attributed the success to the well organized framing done by Kyle Carter, principal of Jefferson Elementary and member of the calendar committee, who carefully outlined the requirements of the board and state prior to discussion.

Among the notable changes was a push for a later school year, an idea Carter noted has been requested by parents and staff alike over the years. This was accomplished by setting a later date for holiday break according to Carter, which will begin on the Thursday prior to the 2016 Sunday Christmas date.

An additional noteworthy change was made in regards to Good Friday. Carter noted there was much conversation about the holiday among members of the committee, which includes multiple parents of religious backgrounds. Several factors were considered when deciding how the holiday would be handled including the fact many area businesses did not observe the holiday, leaving parents to find childcare options outside of the school.

In addition, Carter noted with an ever-growing diverse background of cultures and religions in the community, the school would be wise to be careful in how it observes strictly religious holidays. Though the committee opted to not close school on Good Friday, parents wishing to have students home for religious reasons can do so without the absence being unexcused.

RELATED: 2016-2017 Board Approved Calendar; 2016-2017 Board Approved Calendar Spanish