Students and parents in District 200 will likely start the 2015-16 school year closer to mid-August than later in the month, a prospect that troubles one member of the school board.
Starting the school year three weeks before Labor Day is unacceptable and is putting families in a difficult spot, says Jeff Weissglass, the board’s vice president. According to the district’s draft calendar for next year, all students will start on Tuesday, Aug. 18, with freshmen starting the day before. The 2014-15 school year started Aug. 19.
The high school began moving the school start date earlier in August in 2012, when it decided to hold fall final exams before the winter break.
The D200 board reviewed the draft calendar at their regular meeting Nov. 20. The school year calendar is typically finalized in early spring. Weissglass said other parents share his concern.
Some students are still involved in summer activities and programs in mid-August, Weissglass said, adding that parents also use that time period to wrap up summer family activities while getting their kids ready for the upcoming school year.
Weissglass urged the administration to review both the fall and spring semesters to come up with a better solution to starting mid-August.
“I think that starting school three weeks before Labor Day verges on outrageous. … I think we have to have some more creative ways to solve the problem,” Weissglass said.
“If we were talking about changing an academic year calendar in a way that was to get more year-round schooling, that would be one thing,” Weissglass said. “But having had this decision a couple of years ago by the school to go to finals before winter break, and then having that drive us into the middle of August to start school, I think, is an unintended consequence that nobody was really thinking about at the time.”
Another concern, though minor, for Weissglass is hotter weather in August. Board President John Phelan noted that the early fall start also means students getting out earlier in the summer. Having final exams after winter break wasn’t really giving students a real vacation break, Phelan added.
“I was on the board when it was considered, and we did consider what it was going to do, so what I struggle with is the sanctity of August,” Phelan said. “And to the extent that there are a couple of weeks in August when people are in school, I’m not outraged by that.”
Weissglass said he feels that the end of summer period and start of school is tight fit for families.
“It’s just too crunched. It’s not enough time to have your kid do an enrichment program or a camp and then have a family vacation and come back. That’s why that crunch is so difficult for me and people in my circles that I’m hearing from,” Weissglass said.
