Hartselle School Superintendent Dr. Vic Wilson has eliminated five early release days for the second half of the 2014-2015 school year.

The Hartselle Board of Education approved this year’s school calendar that included every early release days every other Thursday. However, Wilson said it has presented parents with a hardship over the first half of the school year.

“We saw some really good things about it, but there were some things that just really didn’t work,” Wilson said. “It helped us figure out what we needed to do going forward.”

Wilson said the following early release days will be eliminated: Jan. 15, Feb. 26, April 2, April 30 and May 14.

The other four early release days on Jan. 29, Feb. 12, March 12 and April 16 will remain as scheduled with an early release at 1:30 p.m., but buses will not run until 3 p.m.

Students that have already scheduled events or appointments for the eliminated early release days will not be assessed unexcused absences as long as their principals were notified.

“The calendar committee brought information to us that the current set up is not working like it was intended,” Wilson said. “This came from all groups and grade levels with the exception of the high school. The parents had to take off work to get their kids. It was creating a hardship for them.

“Every parent that I’ve talked to is happy about the change. I appreciate their patience through this process.”