Several weeks ago, in fact long before it was officially approved last month by the Newton Community School District Board of Education, the 2013-14 school calendar was released to the public.

It showed a start date of Aug. 21, and and ending date -- barring "snow days" -- of May 29. It also had a built-in "make-up day" on Feb. 17, the federally-observed President's Day. It also showed 180 student contact days, the required minimum established by Iowa law.

Apparently, that last bit of information was in error. The calendar had 179 student contact days, not 180, so a day had to be added.