by James Johnson

Created on: May 19, 2008

Bad Idea.

Thirty years ago our school district tried year long terms. The 12-month schedule created some benefits, but the flaws were serious and quickly killed everyone's enthusiasm for the change. The school district never repeated the trial.

Consultants assured the school board it would save a ton of money for new construction and land acquisition. This happened. And it happened because the school board included a generous break policy. That is, kids went to school 60 days straight, and then took 2 weeks off. Other kids used their classrooms while they were gone. Classrooms were utilized 100% all year long.

Parents kind of liked it because it seemed like they spent less for after-care, but then they suddenly needed fulltime-care when school was out for two weeks. Many had problems finding vacant spots in daycare agencies.

The problems were numerous.

The worst problem was the break schedule. If you had 3 kids: one in high school, one in middle school, and one in elementary school, there was no guarantee they attended school on the same schedule. This often put a knot in the tail of your vacation plan or Christmas travel. If Christmas didn't fall inside your break it was just another one-day holiday. Sports, band, chorus, and most extracurricular activities were adversely affected by the breaks. The breaks also affected the schedules of outside agencies that were involved with the schools, students, and school personnel.

Abbreviated vacations annoyed teachers who wanted to go to college, travel, or attend workshops in the summer months. Some had to forfeit summer employment opportunities. Teachers and staff on break were required to return to school for conferences, meetings, and training.

Kids changed student self-discipline. Breaks were never more than 2 months away, and two weeks out of every school session was needed to manage rowdy kids leaving or returning from a break. Breaks also interfered with the academic progress of marginal and low performing students. Their performance suffered because of the regular interruptions to their learning routine.

With the school open all year utilities were required all year. The full fleet of buses was required all year. And the community never got a break from the 'yellow peril,' out on the streets, obstructing traffic at rush hours. Administrative staff was needed all year. The classrooms accommodated the increased student enrollment, but the administrative space didn't handle the increased staff. People shared offices and desks. Plus cafeteria ladies, janitors, and crossing-guards were needed all year.

Year long school was a bad idea because schools don't exist in isolation. The schools wanted the world to march to the beat of their drummer, and it didn't happen.

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