HUTCHINSON, Kan. — With members expressing concern over the number of Friday in-service/staff work days for elementary schools, the USD 308 Board of Education tabled the proposed 2018-19 academic calendar.

Board action came during the regular study session.

The calendar was developed by a committee of parents, teachers, and administrators. The biggest change for families in the proposed calendar was the elimination of 20 early release days for elementary schools, replacing those days with less frequent full-day in-service and work days for staff. Both Hutchinson Middle School and Hutchinson High School retain five early release days, but most of those early release days correspond with days when the elementary schools do not have classes.

The Board asked the Calendar Committee to look at reducing the number of full-day in-service/workdays for elementary teachers.

Also Monday, elementary students from across USD 308 shared their works of art with the seven-member board.

In a long-standing tradition for Youth Art Month, in March, elementary students attended the final board meeting in February to give members a preview. The district is also hosting an online Sixth Grade Art Show. Work of the sixth graders can be found at https://www.usd308.com/ArtShow. Student artwork for the show includes both two-dimensional and three-dimensional pieces.

Viewers of the online show can vote for their favorite pieces, which will then be featured at their schools and during a reception at 6:30 p.m. April 19 in the Hutchinson Career and Technical Education Academy’s Event Center, 800 15th Circle.