The Pella School Board approved a revised academic calendar for 2020-21 at their meeting Monday.

Pella Schools Superintendent Greg Ebeling says the new start date of August 20th allows the district to have additional flexibility as it relates to splitting semesters more efficiently and allowing for additional make-up time in May if needed for any potential closures needed for COVID-19. The original plan was for August 13th, but last week, the Governor went back on a previous order allowing schools to start as needed before August 23rd — now, hours won’t count toward 1,080 required hours if classes start before that date. Still, schools are allowed to start earlier, so the district is doing so to have the first semester end at winter break.

The board also approved changes to the volleyball coaching structure at Pella High School, by creating a new Director of Volleyball Operations position and shifting the coaching structure for the varsity and JV programs. Megan Clayberg was named to the director position, while Mallory Peterson will now serve as a varsity coach.

The board reviewed the draft plan for the Pella High School graduation ceremony–which will include a car processional on Friday, May 22nd, potential uses of approximately $61,000 in funding from the CARES act, and the status of the After School Kids Klub after Crossroads of Pella suspended the program this summer.