Pendleton schools consider new fit with Round-Up

PENDLETON, Ore. — The past two school years, school hasn’t started in Pendleton until the last bronc has bucked at annual Round-Up rodeo.

Now, school officials have asked parents for their opinions about next year’s calendar:

— Keep it as is, starting on Sept. 21 and ending June 21?

— Or, revert to a schedule with earlier starting and ending dates, Aug. 31 and June 1?

The East Oregonian reports that the school used to have classes on Monday and Tuesday of rodeo week, and it changed the schedule to give students as many uninterrupted weeks of schooling as it could.

But new events at Oregon’s most prominent rodeo led the school system to concede the whole week to the Round-Up.