By GRAHAM BROOKS / Staff Writer

COLUMBIANA–The Shelby County Schools Board of Education approved the school calendar for the 2016-17 school year at the monthly board meeting on Thursday, Feb. 18.

The 2016-2017 academic year will begin for students on Aug. 9, which is three days earlier than the start of the 2015-2016 school year.

The grading periods will be broken down into four separate periods that end on Oct. 7, Dec. 16, March 9 and May 25. The total number of days for instruction will be 180 days for students.

The approved first semester holidays include Labor Day, an Oct. 10 professional day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving break from Nov. 21-25 and Christmas holidays from Dec. 19-Jan. 3.

The second semester holidays will be Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Presidents Day, a March 10 teacher workday and spring break holiday from March 27-31.

The various high school graduations throughout the school system will occur between May 22-25 and the last day of school for students will be May 25, 2017.

An inclement weather day will be utilized on Feb. 20, 2017 if needed.