LINCOLN COUNTY, N.C. -- Lincoln County students will now have a new calendar for the upcoming school year.

• Lincoln County students will have a year-round school format. 
• This is due to teacher workdays placed in June and July.
• The board has received complaints from parents, but administrators say it allows exams before Christmas break. 

The biggest change is that students will have to go back to school August 12 instead of the state-mandated August 25 date.

This makes them a year-round school because school board members placed teacher workdays in June and July.

The board has received complaints from parents not happy with the earlier start date but administrators say this would allow students to take exams before Christmas break. 

“We believe we’ve got a good innovative calendar and we’re trying to be creative trying to focus on being what’s right for kids, focus on helping our teachers, and optimizing instructional time. Being in compliance with 215 days well over 1,025 hours,” said Lory Morrow, superintendent.

The superintendent says now, they're turning the calendar over to the Department of public education.