By JIM BUTLER

This much is certain – the next school year will begin for students on August 8, 2024 and end on May 22, 2025.

And you can plan for Christmas break beginning with end of classes (and semester) on Friday, December 20, and Easter break next Spring beginning with Good Friday.

Other details will be resolved after public voting on the two alternatives before the board.

You can vote by going to the school system web site. Voting closes Sunday, with a board decision February 6.

The plans are fairly close to the outline of the current school year though noticeable changes are proposed.

Completing the fall semester with arrival of Christmas break is both an instructional and logistical streamline.

Moving the Spring break to the week after Easter was favored by teacher and student advisory panels.

When to set Fall break (give it up, greybeards, substantive breaks in each semester are now accepted practice).

Alternative A has it Thursday and Friday after the parish fair; Alternative B has it Friday and Monday of Fair weekend.

Both calendars have the required 171 student days and have 1,260 more instructional minutes than the state minimum, creating 3.5 days for weather or other extraordinary events that necessitate closings.