By Jeremy A. Corley

Managing Editor

The Van Alstyne school board discussed a new type of calendar for the 2010-11 school year, extended contracts for the district's administrators and approved a roofing bid for the College Street campus during Monday's regular meeting.

Superintendent Dr. Alan Seay presented the board with a proposed district calendar for the 2010-11 school year that included the optional flexible year program (OFYP), or the flex calendar.

The flex calendar allows students to be exempted from as many as 10 of the state-mandated 180 annual days of class through academic performance and test scores. Attendance and discipline also would be used to determine days off.

Days off for students in grades 5 through 12 would be divided into two tiers.

Tier 1 would assign a core subject area such as language arts or math to each Friday in February. A student who had a grade average of 90 or above in that core subject, passing scores on state tests and an appropriate attendance and disciplinary record could have a given Friday off.

The students who did not qualify for days off would participate in intensive instruction in a day's assigned core subject.

Tier 2 would allow students to have six days off at the end of the school year with passing averages in all core subjects, passing scores on state tests and appropriate attendance and disciplinary track records.

The school board wanted to get more feedback from the community on the proposed calendar, so the topic was tabled and a public meeting was scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 2, in the middle school cafetorium.

In addition to the public meeting the district will offer parents, teachers and community members an opportunity to express their support for or against the option through an online survey located on the district Web site, which also will contain a "Frequently Asked Questions" page. The Web-based survey should be functional by the beginning of next week.

Also during Monday's meeting, the board:

Approved contract extensions for each of the district's administrators except for Seay, whose contract is reviewed annually in October.

Approved a guaranteed maximum price (GMP) of $177,051 for a new roof to be put on the gymnasium and cafeteria at the College Street campus.

Moved March's regular board meeting from 15 to March 22.

Heard comments from three residents.

Sharon Gentle told the board that Girls Athletics Coordinator Betty Molk needs more time during the day to take care of her department. Gentle also expressed support for the flex calendar.

Van Ulrich expressed dissatisfaction with the current state of the girls athletics program.

Cindy Hammond voiced concerns about the proposed flex calendar.

Discussed a possible barn at the district's agriculture farm that would cost about $250,000.