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Wednesday, Nov. 04, 2009

Merced College board approves calendar year; Veterans Day will be Nov. 11

The Merced College board of trustees approved the school's 2010-11 academic calendar Tuesday evening, moving the college's Veterans Day observance to the federally-recognized date of Nov. 11.

Approval of the holiday's observance was called into question last month when board members did not support the administration's recommendation to turn the holiday into a four-day weekend.

This month, college administration changed its recommendation and the board supported the new calendar unanimously.

The board had already approved the start and end dates, plus all other holiday observances, in October.

That means classes will begin on Aug. 18, 2010 and run through May 27, 2011.

Spring break will run April 18-24.

Summer session will run from June 20 to July 29, 2011.

The board also approved new fines for parking violations on campus.

Old fines averaged around $15, said Mazie Brewington, vice president of administrative services at Merced College.

The new fines range from $20 to $275 and increase with each additional expense.

The college makes about $100,000 each year on parking and traffic fines, Brewington said.

The money is used to maintain parking areas on campus and for other public safety projects like security cameras, she said.

Reporter Danielle E. Gaines can be reached at (209) 385-2407 or dgaines@mercedsun-star.com.