A calendar for the 2008-2009 school year was approved last week by the Mehlville Board of Education.

Board members voted 6-0 to begin classes for the 2008-2009 school year Wednesday, Aug. 13. The last scheduled day of school will be Thursday, May 21. Board member Ken Leach was unable to attend the Jan. 17 meeting.

The 2008-2009 calendar will have all students attending school for 174 days. The first semester will end Friday, Dec. 19, with the start of winter break.

The second semester will begin Monday, Jan. 5. Spring break will occur the week of March 16 to March 20.

Students and staff will observe the traditional holidays of Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Presidents Day.

Other non-school days for all students include Sept. 22, Oct. 22, Nov. 4, Feb. 13, March 6, April 10, April 13 and April 27.

The school district also will observe two-hour late starts for professional development Sept. 11, Oct. 8, Nov. 13, Dec. 3, Jan. 27, Feb. 24, March 26 and May 6.

Should school be canceled due to inclement weather, students will make up those days as needed after May 21.

The Board of Education also approved a skeletal schedule for the 2009-2010 school year.

The first day of school will be Monday, Aug. 17.

Winter break will be Dec. 23 to Jan. 1 and spring break is scheduled for the week of March 15 to March 19.

The 2009-2010 school year calendar will be finalized in November.