District rolls out draft calendars for next two school years

by Judy Stringer

Sept. 12 board of education meeting

Parents and staff of the Hudson City School district have until Oct. 20 to comment on proposed calendars for the 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 school years.

Among calendar considerations, according to Assistant Superintendent Doreen Osmun, was concluding the first semester before winter break so that middle and high school students went into that two-week break without worrying about schoolwork – something that had not been possible due to “construction” over the last two years, she said.

Other considerations included aligning Hudson’s spring break with Kent State University’s, where some high school students take college credit classes, and with other school districts in the Six District Compact, which offers courses in career-technical fields for Hudson students.

Wednesday, Aug. 16, 2023, would be the first day of school for the 2023-2024 school year, under the proposed calendar. Thanksgiving break would take place Wednesday-Friday, Nov. 22-24; winter break, Thursday, Dec. 21- Friday, Jan. 5; and spring break, Monday, March 25- Monday, April 1. The last day of school would be Thursday, May 30.

In the 2024-2025 proposal, the first day of school falls on Wednesday, Aug. 21, with Thanksgiving Break, Wednesday-Friday, Nov 27-29; winter break, Friday Dec. 20-Friday Jan. 3; and spring break, Monday-Friday, March 24-28. That school year would conclude on Wednesday, June 4.

Osmun said the calendar committee had discussed Wednesday, Aug. 14, as the first day of school in 2024, but went with the later date following the recommendation from high school and middle school representatives. Both calendars also include an extra day off around President’s Day in February. For seniors and their parents, she said, that day provides “a nice opportunity to go and visit that college one more time before they have to absolutely commit.”

The draft calendars are available to view at hudson.k12.oh.us. Feedback can be emailed to calendar@hudson.k12.oh.us or provided by calling the superintendent’s office at 330-653-1217.

The board is slated to vote on the calendars at its Monday, Oct. 24 meeting.

In other meeting news, the board elected member Alisa Wright as its vice president for the remainder of the calendar year. Steve DiMauro vacated the vice president post in July when then-President David Zuro resigned and DiMauro assumed the presidency. It also realigned board members’ roles and responsibilities for the remainder of the year to account for the loss of Zuro and the appointment of new board member Laura Jones.

In addition, the board accepted the retirement of physical education teacher Sheri Porter, effective June 2, 2023, and the addition of a Hudson Newcomers Club at the high school.

School bus drivers

Responding to a query from the board, Operations Director Tom Barone agreed the district is “feeling” the shortage of bus drivers plaguing districts across the area.  

“We are in a position where we could definitely use some more drivers,” he said, adding that much of the crunch happens when regular drivers are out sick or absent for personal reasons. “The staff [at Petermann Transportation] have done a wonderful job trying their best to adapt to those shortages, and we appreciate the patience and understanding from our families when those changes do need to be made.” ∞