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Following the Henrico School Board’s direction last week, Henrico Schools officials this week have invited members of the public to submit input about the starting date for the 2021-22 school year. Two options will be considered: the traditional post-Labor Day start (Sept. 8, 2021) or a new pre-Labor Day start (Aug. 23, 2021).
Last week, the School Board agreed not to consider a third option, which proposed year-round school.
In early March, Henrico County Public Schools introduced the idea of a pre-Labor Day start to the 2021-22 school year and was planning a series of public input sessions. Then the COVID-19 outbreak began and canceled those plans.
Members of the public may share their thoughts on the two options by taking a survey, open until June 3 at 8 a.m., at http://henricoschools.us/2021-22-calendar-options/.
In Option A (the pre-Labor Day start), school would end June 3, 2022. In Option B (the post-Labor Day start), school would end June 17, 2022.
Henrico Superintendent Amy Cashwell and school staff members are proposing the post-Labor Day start for several reason; among them, the fact that a larger edition of Holladay Elementary and new editions of Tucker and Highland Springs high schools are scheduled to open in the fall of 2021 and their already-tight construction timelines could mean they wouldn’t be able to open by Aug. 23.
The School Board is expected to vote to adopt a 2021-22 calendar at its June 18 meeting. The coming school year already is scheduled to begin after Labor Day, on Sept. 8.
