1/16/18 – 5:08 A.M.

Liberty-Benton school board members talked about the start of the school year before approving the calendar for 2018-2019 during their Monday meeting. The Courier reports board member Mark Badertscher suggested moving the start of the school year to after the Hancock County Fair. He said not much gets done before the school takes an extended break during fair week.

Superintendent Mark Kowalski agreed that starting in mid-August is early, but said it made sense for a variety of reasons. Kowalski says it gives students extra classroom time before state-mandated testing. He added that starting later would mean ending in June and having less time off around the holidays.

The school board agreed to start the next school year on August 20.

MORE: The Courier