Jefferson Davis County School District’s Board of Trustees has adopted a flexible academic calendar for the 2023-2024 school year.

“Several school districts across the state are currently operating by a similar calendar,” said JDC Superintendent Ike Haynes. Haynes says much consideration and research was invested in this decision.

“Valuing the opinion of our stakeholders was instrumental.” 

Stakeholders were provided at minimum two separate opportunities to participate in surveys to explore their interest in adopting a flexible academic calendar.

Survey results indicated that approximately 62% of parents, 81% of certified staff and 79% of classified staff were in favor of adopting the attached flexible calendar.

Teachers at Jefferson Davis County Middle School in Prentiss are on board with the change.

“As an educator, I feel as if the new school calendar is a plus,” said Kendra Payne.

Payne feels that even though it will shorten summer breaks, the calendar is what is needed due to COVID-19 and the children being behind.

“I feel as if the new schedule will be complicated at first and will take some time getting use to especially since it cuts out having a full summer break,” said A’Kedra Shorts. “But I also think that it’s better because it allows the students to be in school more, and the more they’re in school, the more they’ll learn to become successful.”

“I like the calendar,” said Tracy Catchings Walker. “I just want the school administrators to plan effectively so that we’ll be ready and prepared for students.”

Like a traditional academic calendar, the flexible calendar will continue to require that students attend school for a total of 180 instructional days.

However, those days are strategically arranged in order to offer two intercession breaks that will allow selected teachers to target specific academic goals that are tailored the needs of individual student participants.

With the adoption of the flexible calendar, the first day of school for students in the 2023-2024 school year is July 24, 2023.