By GRAHAM BROOKS / Staff Writer

COLUMBIANA–Shelby County Schools has proposed the school calendar for the 2017-18 school year, the district made known on its website Feb. 22.

The 2017-2018 academic year will begin for students on Aug. 8, which is one day earlier than the start of the 2016-2017 school year.

The grading periods will be broken down into four separate periods that end on Oct. 5, Dec. 15, March 8 and May 24. The total number of days for instruction will be 178 days for students.

The approved first semester holidays include Labor Day, an Oct. 6 professional development day, an Oct. 9 data assessment/instructional planning day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving break from Nov. 20-24 and Christmas holidays from Dec. 18-Jan. 1.

The second semester holidays will be Martin Luther King Jr. Day, a Feb. 16 data assessment/instructional planning day, Presidents Day, a March 9 teacher workday and spring break holiday from March 26-30.

The various high school graduations throughout the school system will occur between May 21-24 and the last day of school for students will be May 24, 2018.

An inclement weather day will be utilized on Feb. 19, 2018 if needed.

Comments concerning the proposed calendar can be sent to Calendar@shelbyed.org.

The school district also has the proposed calendar for the 2018-19 school year on its website as well.