The Ironton Board of Education unanimously approved an academic calendar for the 2009-2010 school year Tuesday that stays in line with previous years.

The approved calendar shows that classes for the 2009-2010 school year will begin on Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2009, and end on Wednesday, May 26, 2010. The academic year contains 178 days of instruction.

The first quarter or grading period will contain 42 days and end on Oct. 16, 2009. The second grading period will have 41 days and end on Dec. 18, 2009. The third grading period will consist of 47 days and end on March 12, 2010 with the final grading period having 48 days and have an end date of May 26, 2010.

Christmas break will start Dec. 21, 2009 with classes resuming on Jan. 4, 2010. Easter week will be the week of March 29 through April 2, 2010.

Monday, Oct. 6, 2009 is scheduled as Ohio Grade 3 Reading Achievement testing day with October 26 through Nov. 6 as Ohio Graduation testing days for grades 11 and 12.

Ohio Graduation testing days for grades 10 through 12 were scheduled for March 15-26, 2010 with Ohio Achievement testing days for grades 3 through 8 slated for April 19-30, 2010.

Three staff developments days scheduled for Aug. 18 and Nov. 3, 2009 along with May 27, 2010. A pair of parent teacher conference days was included in the approved calendar; however specific dates were not available.

Make-up days were scheduled for Feb. 15, March 29-31 and April 1, 2010 should the district use more than their allotted five “calamity days” per state mandate.

The addition of make-up days for the current school year due to inclement weather and sickness has pushed both the third and fourth grading periods out and extended the school year, Ironton Superintendent Dean Nance said.

The third grading period is now scheduled to end on April 1, 2009 with the fourth grading period and the last day of school ending on June 6, 2009.

Nance added that the additional school days does not affect Ironton High School seniors as they already have the necessary classroom hours to complete their school year on schedule.

Commencement is still scheduled for May 24.

Commencement for the Ironton Senior Class of 2010 is scheduled for Sunday, May 30, 2010.