The Greeneville Board of Education on Thursday evening approved the school calendars for the 2010-11 academic year.

Assistant Director of Schools Dr. Vicki Kirk presented two calendars -- that for the most of the Greeneville City School System and the year-round calendar for Highland Elementary School.

For the regular calendar, students start school on Wednesday, Aug. 4, which will be an abbreviated day. The first full day for students will be Monday, Aug. 9.

The last day of school will Tuesday, May 24, an abbreviated day.

Christmas break will be Dec. 20-Jan. 3.

Spring break will be March 28-April 1.

The calendar includes five administrative days and 10 professional-development days, Kirk said.

Greeneville High School's graduation is scheduled for 7 p.m. Friday, May 20.

Highland's first day of school will be Thursday, July 15, an abbreviated day. The first full day for students will be Monday, July 19.

The three long breaks in Highland School's calendar will be Sept. 22-Oct. 12, Dec. 20-Jan. 3 and March 23-April 8.

The last day of school for Highland is Saturday, June 4, an abbreviated day.

Kirk said the calendars were developed by a team of representatives from each school.

The Greeneville School Board approved, on first reading, a revision to its policy on school board meetings.

Director of Schools Dr. Lyle Ailshie said the revision was recommended by the Tennessee School Boards Association (TSBA).

The revision states that cameras, camcorders or other photographic equipment cannot be used at board meetings without prior consent from the board.

Ailshie said Greeneville is "lucky," but some communities have had issues with parents and media being disruptive with cameras at school board meetings.

The revision must be approved on second reading before it becomes official.

In the financial report for September, Lisa Stephens, business and finance supervisor, said local revenue collections are down by $46,000, compared with the same time last year.

She said she projected a decrease of $60,000 for the year.

She projected a 3 percent decrease in sales tax revenue, but actual sales tax revenue is down by 3.72 percent, or $22,536.

Chairman Jerry Anderson said Greeneville is "blessed," compared to decreases is sales tax revenue of 5.8 percent in Kingsport, 6.4 percent in Bristol and 8.6 percent in Sullivan County.

Stephens also reported the need to spend approximately $9,700 to rebuild of a school bus engine.

The amount falls below the $10,000 threshold that requires approval by the board, she noted.

The bus, she said, has four years left in its expected operating life.

Phillip Graham, maintenance supervisor, reviewed five bids and recommended the best bid, she said.

The board heard a report on the school system's Preschool Parent Involvement Program, called "Home Is Where Your Story Begins."

Kim Gass said the program has served a total of 175 families and 2,369 individuals in the past two years.

The program costs approximately $10,000 a year and has operated its first three years using United Way grant funding.

This funding will not be available next year, she said.

Attending the meeting with Gass were Latasha Keller, preschool social worker, and Alison Tipton, family resource specialist for HeadStart.

They showed a photo slideshow of the preschoolers and their family members at the program's family events.