By law, the Board of Education approves the school calendar. The superintendent is required to develop a proposed calendar with input from staff and public and to present this to the Board of Education for consideration. 

General Statuate §115C-84.2 states that the opening of school for students shall not be before August 25, and the closing date shall not be after June 10. Also, effective July 1, 2011, House Bill 200 (Session Law 2011-145) rewrites a portion of the calendar law - Legislation: Session Law 2011-145, House Bill 200, Section 7.29, Increase Number of Instructional Days.

The school calendar must include the following:

• 215 days, covering at least 9 calendar months
• 185 pupil attendance days (full school days) and 1,025 hours of instruction- NEW
• 10 annual leave days
• Legal holidays as determined by the State (typically 10 days designated)
• 10 Workdays (At least 8 required of all at the system level) - NEW
• Veteran's Day as a holiday for students and staff
• At least 42 days between school years (except year round)

Union County Public Schools uses the following process for developing the calendar:

Each year, a Board member representative is identified to head the calendar committee.  The committee is formed as follows:

• 1 teacher from each high school district (9) with each level
  (elementary, middle, and high school) represented.
• 1 parent from each high school district (9)
• 2 high school students (2)
• 5 Principals (one from each level) (5)
• 1 Board Member (1)
• 4 Central Staff Member to provide information and coordinate as needed
  (ex-officio, non-voting)

Representation rotates from year to year so that each school is represented on the committee at least every two or three years. Once the schools and representative categories for representation are determined, schools are asked to identify the individuals for membership.

This committee typically meets in the fall and completes its recommendation for the next school year. The goal is to present this to the Board of Education for approval before the Christmas break. The committee usually requires at least two meetings to complete its proposal. (NOTE:  During the time the calendar was modified to provide for completion of the first semester before Christmas, the committee met a number of additional times over several months.)

Principals are asked to invite school staff members to forward recommendations to the Calendar Committee.  Professional Advisory Council members are also asked for recommendations. Calendar committee members are asked to discuss the calendar with their colleagues and counterparts prior to and during the calendar development process.

During the first meeting of the Calendar Committee, calendars from previous years are evaluated and recommendations from various sources are discussed. A proposed calendar is usually "roughed out" at the first meeting. Copies of this initial draft are forwarded to schools for discussion and further input. This information is brought to the next calendar committee for consideration and further refinement of the proposed calendar.

This process continues until the calendar committee has reached consensus on a proposed calendar for the superintendent and Board.