CONTACT:  Wendy V. Long, Public Relations

                        (413) 685-1003

Change in Gateway calendar to be considered

Huntington – Parents are advised that the Gateway Regional School Committee will consider changing the date of Parent-Teacher conferences on the school calendar, at their next meeting on February 28th.

The committee was to discuss the meeting on February 14th, but the meeting was cancelled due to weather.

The school calendar has March 19th scheduled for the parent-teacher conference day, which is a day off for students.  At issue is the scheduled MCAS Composition exam, which the state has scheduled for March 20th.  Teachers have expressed concern over having students sit for this exam on the first day following a three-day weekend. 

The state scheduled the MCAS Composition date after Gateway had set its school calendar for the 2006-2007 school year.  The Massachusetts Department of Education requires that all schools hold the composition exam on the same date.

The School Committee will consider changing the Parent-Teacher Conference date to March 26th.  Parents will be notified if the change in dates is approved.