The first day of school for Northgate students will be before Labor Day next year.

At its meeting on Monday the board approved a 2011-12 calendar that sets the first day of classes for students on Monday, Aug. 29.

Board member Dr. Shannon Smithey told the board that she had spoken with several parents, who were looking for a consistent start date to the school year. The district has fluctuated for several years between before-Labor Day and after-Labor Day start dates. Smithey suggested that the board consider a compromise. She suggested that the school year always start on Sept. 1, unless that date fell on a Friday or a weekend. That would make the date that school would start more predictable and consistent for parents, she said.

Board member David Natale said that compromises had been suggested before, but that they had not solved the issue of the fluctuating start dates for the Northgate schools. He also said that this would lead to the board having three school calendars to consider rather than the before and after Labor Day calendars on which the board now votes.

The board approved the 2011-12 calendar with three dissenting votes by members Anthony Barbarino, Daniel O'Keefe and Susan Nolan. Board member Gary Paladin was absent.