(KNZA)--The Hiawatha Board of Education Monday evening unanimously approved a calendar for next school year that does not contain the Wednesday morning PLC one-hour late starts held twice a month.

Instead, the calendar includes extra staff development throughout the school year.

Board members said they would like to try something different after hearing concerns from parents.  Board member John Wright said he thinks the Wednesday late starts put an undo burden on parents.

Superintendent Penny Hargrove said 60 percent of teachers favored a school calendar option that kept the Wednesday late starts.

The first day of school will be August 17th and the last day will be May 24th.

Following an executive session, the Board approved the hiring of a new elementary school counselor.

Heather Kline was hired to replace Tom Jones who is retiring at the end of the current school year.

Kline currently serves as a student advisor/test coordinator for the Oelrichs, South Dakota Public Schools.  She received her master degree in school counseling from Fort Hays State University.