The DeSoto County Board of Education released copies of the 2010-11 school calendar, but the dates are subject to change, according to Superintendent of Education Milton Kuykendall.

“Parents have already been calling to ask about next year’s calendar,” Kuykendall told board members at the March 1 meeting in Hernando.

While the calendar has been set – tentatively – Kuykendall warned that bills under consideration by the state could bring about changes. For example, the Mississippi Congress is reviewing a bill that would keep districts from starting the school year before Sept. 1. There is also discussion on cutting the number of required school days from the current 180 to 170.

As of March 1, the 2010-11 calendar has DeSoto County’s public schools starting on Aug. 2 for teachers and Aug. 5 for students. In addition to the Labor Day (Sept. 6) and Fall Break (Oct. 11-12) holidays, students will also have a day off on Nov. 2 for Professional Development Day.

The Thanksgiving break is set for Nov. 24-26, with the Christmas holidays scheduled for Dec. 20-31. Teachers return on Jan. 3, with students back in the classroom on Jan 4. The King/Lee Holiday is observed on Jan. 17.

Another Professional Development Day – and student holiday – is on Feb. 18, followed by the Washington’s Birthday Holiday on Feb. 21. Spring Break will be March 14-18, with the Easter Holiday on April 22. Students’ last day is May 20, with teachers closing out the school year on May 23.

Feb. 18 and 21, and May 23-25 are scheduled make-up days, if needed.

Board members were also updated about the construction progress of three new schools. A new high school in Lake Cormorant, along with primary schools at DeSoto Central and in Lewisburg, are scheduled to open this fall.

“There’s been a lot of questions about some of our buildings,” Kuykendall said. “We have 900 kids ready to move in over in Lake Cormorant.

“We have kids in trailers at two schools,” he added. “That is not a good situation; our kids deserve better.”

According to reports present to the board, LCHS is approximately four months away from completion and should be ready for occupancy by the end of June. Because of weather issues, construction crews were only able to work on DCPS for six days during Feburary.

Lewisburg Primary, on the other hand, is expected to be finished by July 15. The roof is on the building, allowing crews to work inside where the weather isn’t as much of a concern.

“It is most important for us to meet the deadlines,” Kuykendall said. “We take a lot of hits from people when these schools don’t open.”

A total of $15 million in bonds were released by the board, the final installment of the $60 million approved two years ago. J.P. Morgan, with a low bid of 2.75 percent, was the winning bidder for the bonds.