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Schools

Parkland Won't Start School Early Next Year After All

District superintendent said he is no longer recommending an earlier start date after teachers union advised against signing a memorandum of understanding.

 officials have decided against pursuing a pre-Labor Day start to the 2012-2013 school year.

Superintendent Richard Sniscak told the Personnel and Finance Committee on Monday that he sent a memorandum of understanding to the Parkland Education Association, which is in  with district officials, suggesting the change to an earlier start.

However, Sniscak said, the Pennsylvania State Education Association subsequently advised the teachers union to not sign the memorandum of understanding because of the ongoing contract negotiations.

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Consequently, he said, he no longer is recommending the change to the school calendar.

Earlier this year, Sniscak had talked to school board committees about the possibility of beginning school a week earlier than usual, prior to Labor Day weekend.

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At the time, school officials were motivated by several factors. Some of the other school districts that feed into the Lehigh Career & Technical Institute also start school prior to Labor Day or have been considering doing so.

Also, school officials in Lehigh County have said that an earlier start would give districts more of a cushion with snow days, as well as provide more time for students to prepare for state standardized tests, called the Keystone Exams, held the second week of May.

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