Lawrence school board members agreed Monday night that the Aug. 11 start date was too early and directed the district’s calendar committee to see what would happen if school started a week later.

“I am sure you all realize that we’re going to have some people not happy with the calendar, which is how we got where we are now,” said board member Sue Morgan. “We will try to address this, and I am in favor of looking at options.”

Board members told calendar committee co-chairwomen Sandee Crowther, executive director of planning and program improvement, and Nancy Dietze, a sixth-grade teacher at Quail Run School, to look at ending the first semester before winter break. However, board members also told them to look at the possibility of extending the first semester past the winter break.

The board members also asked the committee to create a calendar for the 2005-2006 and 2006-2007 school years.

The committee members will provide an update in October.

The issue was raised after the school board heard from four parents who thought the Aug. 11 start date was too early. The parents said they were just a few people representing many.

“The issue is much larger than the four people here,” Rozi Stone said. “I could bring you hundreds of names.”

The parents said the early start date prevented students from participating in some summer activities