Published: April 07, 2008 11:06 pm         

Start of school moved up

Next school year will start a couple of days early, on Aug. 14, instead of Aug. 18, the Enid Public Schools Board of Education decided Monday night.

Christmas break will be two days longer, beginning Dec. 19 instead of Dec. 23.

The board also approved three half-day curriculum planning days for pre-kindergarten through ninth-grade staff, for the afternoons of Aug. 29, Nov. 14 and Feb. 13.

District representatives will answer questions parents have about EPS’ early childhood program during a live PEGASYS call-in show at 6 p.m. Monday on Suddenlink channel 12.

Four-year-old enrollment is 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. April 25. Children must be 4 years old on or before Sept. 1, and 5-year-old students must enroll in kindergarten. There can be 20 students per class.

Kindergarten enrollment will be 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. May 2. Children must be 5 years old on or before Sept. 1.

For both 4-year-old and kindergarten enrollment, parents will enroll at their child’s home school.

In other business, the board approved:

• A utility easement to the city of Enid to aid with water line installation at the district’s property lo-cated south of the fire station on West Garriott, near Cleveland.

• An exception to graduation requirements for a senior at Enid High School.

• Retirements of Colleen Arnold, library media specialist at Longfellow Junior High School, after 33 years, 28 in the district; and Nancy Dillard, vocal music at Taft Elementary School and Monroe Elem-entary School, after 33 years, 17 in the district.

• The resignations of Whitney Bowen, special education, Monroe; Lela Cobble, English, Waller Junior High School; Tom Cobble, head football coach, ISS/driver’s ed/weights, Enid High School; and Vashni Irving, speech pathologist, Eisenhower Elementary School and multiple sites.

A presentation about proposed Fall Tea and March Mad-ness programs for junior high school students for 2008-09 was given by Ruth Ann Erdner, assistant superintendent, and Ann Price, Hope Outreach Parenting Ministry director.

The next school board meeting will be 7 p.m. April 21 at the central office, 500 S. Independence.