Plans to begin the school year earlier district-wide hit a speed bump after the state superintendent of public instruction decided against recommending the request. 

Patricia Wright ruled district had failed to follow the letter of the law, Superintendent Morton Sherman told the board. Waiver requests need to address individual schools, though administrators felt their district wide proposal adequately covered the requirements, he said. 

Still, Wright denied her support for the unorthodox request. 

Im surprised, almost dumbfounded by that, Sherman said. 

Asked whether the state board might vote against Wrights recommendation, Sherman indicated it wasnt a likely outcome. He compared the state officials to their local counterparts. 

Most of us would not want to bring things before the board that would be rejected publically, Sherman said. The [state] board would want to work with her just as you would want to work with me. Its unlikely the board would go against the state superintendents recommendations.

Board members Marc Williams and Charles Wilson called on Sherman to speak directly with Wright while Blanche Maness believes a show of support from the community at large could make the difference.