The Griffin-Spalding County School System is encouraging students, parents, staff and members of the community to provide input on the school calendar for the 2013-14 school year.

According to a news release by the school system, the public can choose between two calendar options. Both options are available for viewing at www.spalding.k12.ga.us now through Nov. 28.

The two school calendar options come with a number of similarities.

In both, the new school year begins on Aug. 12, 2013. Also, both include a full school year with 180 days for students and 190 days for teachers. And both calendar versions include one-week breaks in October and February, two weeks at Christmas and one week at Thanksgiving.

“We have found through past opinion polls that a majority of our parents, employees and students prefer the week-long breaks, even though they extend the school year into the first week of June,” said Assistant Superintendent Denise Burrell.

However, the key difference between the two calendar options is the starting date of the Christmas break. While that break starts on Dec. 19, 2013 (Thursday) in one option, it begins on Dec. 21 (Saturday) in the other.

Based on the input provided by the community, Superintendent Curtis Jones will make a recommendation to the Griffin-Spalding Board of Education, and the board is expected to make a final decision during its regular meeting on Dec. 4.