Thursday night the Washington Parish School Board joined for a regular meeting that was over quickly and covered routine matters.

At the top of the meeting, the board adopted a school calendar for the 2016-2017 school year.

Superintendent Darrell Fairburn said the calendar was organized in accord with faculty wishes.

“We’ve taken a survey and overwhelmingly, this is what they wanted,” he said.

The students will report to school Aug. 9 and the Christmas break will begin Dec. 22 and run for the remainder of the year. This is different than the last Christmas break, which included more days off in front of the holiday and fewer behind. Fairburn said the change is due to where Christmas falls on the calendar this year. This year, Christmas is the Sunday of the last week in the year.

“They indicated to me that when this happened before, they preferred to have the days after Christmas off.”

The only unknown is spring break. The days off are set for April 10 through 17, but those could change.

“One other thing you’ll notice that’s tentative on the calendar is the spring holidays,” said Fairburn. “That’s because we don’t yet have the testing schedule. …. We’ll bring it back to you, should it change.”

The calendar was approved. The board then tabled a motion to select an architect.

Later in the meeting, the board adopted a resolution entering into a Cooperative Endeavor Agreement with Franklinton Dixie Baseball Association. The agreement will allow the association to repair and maintain the district’s fields so long as they can use them. The district gives the association first right of refusal if the district chooses to sell the property, board attorney Wayne Kuhn explained. He said the agreement is similar to one in place with a local basketball association.

Franklinton Dixie Baseball Association is an unincorporated nonprofit group that operates a youth baseball program.

The board sold a 2003 GMC Sierra to the highest bidder of $3,500. Board member Dewitt Perry asked that whatever district insignia is on the vehicle to be removed.

Following the conclusion of business, Fairburn gave a brief superintendent’s report.

“I am just reminding y’all I will be gone next Wednesday, Thursday and Friday to be at the national superintendent’s conference in Phoenix,” he said.

He also wished everyone well over the holidays.

“I hope y’all have a safe Mardi Gras, and if I don’t talk to y’all I hope you have a very productive Louisiana School Board Conference.”

That conference will be Feb. 14 though Feb. 16.

The meeting closed with comments from the board.

“Happy valentine’s day to all the sweethearts, and I assume they all know who they are,” Dan Slocum said.