Jim Thorpe Area School District’s board of directors approved the addition of five early dismissal days to the 2024-25 school calendar on Wednesday.

The early dismissal days, scheduled for Oct. 30, Jan. 29, Feb. 26, April 2 and May 7, will allow teachers to engage in afternoon professional development.

Superintendent Robert Presley said the professional development time is important to enhance the district’s academic initiatives.

“We are trying to get our teachers, paraprofessionals and all of our staff together to look at individual student data and figure out how we can best meet their specific needs,” Presley said.

The decision, he said, was part of an ongoing effort to provide targeted educational support by reviewing student progress and tailoring strategies accordingly.

“We want to foster a more individualized approach to student success, and this time will help us do that,” he added.