The Coventry School Committee voted unanimously to change the district calendar and designate May 5 as a half day for Coventry High School’s senior defense presentations.

Assistant Superintendent Amy Anzalone told the committee the senior defense is a graduation requirement in which seniors meet with panels of three teachers for 10 to 15 minutes to present a portfolio and receive a pass/fail determination. If a senior does not pass, they can revise the presentation and present again before graduation.

Anzalone said the high school previously scheduled the senior defense during a professional development day when the rest of the district participated in PD in the afternoon; this year, the district reduced the number of PD days to three and the school needs a separate half day to complete the senior defense. "They are able to get the majority of the seniors done," she said.

A motion to approve the calendar update passed 5–0 in open session. The committee recorded the vote and moved on to subsequent agenda items.