NATCHEZ — The Concordia Parish School Board unanimously adopted a school calendar for the 2016-2017 academic year Thursday night.

Interim superintendent Loretta Blankenstein said a special committee created several options of calendars, and the adopted one was the most popular.

“School personnel voted, and this was the calendar of choice,” Blankenstein said at the meeting.

The first school day of fall 2016 is scheduled for Aug. 8. The calendar includes 28 vacation days, seven professional development days and eight early dismissal days. The final day of school is scheduled for May 18.

In other news:

-The school board decided to enter into a cooperative endeavor with the Concordia Parish Workforce Development Board.

Blankenstein said the agreement would allow high school dropouts the opportunity to receive assistance in earning a GED or locating employment.

-The board approved the first of two required readings of a new student identification policy before it can be adopted.

The policy will require students to update emergency contact information at the beginning of each school year, including parental phone numbers, contact information for the student’s regular physician and a list of authorized adults who can pick the child up from school.