Non-traditional school year proposal has North Thurston parents asking lots of questions
After one community forum, it’s clear that a North Thurston Public Schools proposal to alter the school year with longer breaks during fall, winter and spring, but a shorter summer break, is not going to be a slam dunk.
About 50 parents asked question after question during an hourlong forum at Chinook Middle School on Wednesday, the first of three such events.
Under consideration at North Thurston, but also at Olympia and Yelm school districts, is what the district calls a “balanced calendar,” which would spread 180 days of instruction over the year in a slightly different fashion. Students would get a 2-3 week break during fall, winter and spring, and a summer break in the 5-8 week range, down from the traditional 11 weeks.
Why? One reason is to combat summer learning loss for all students, but particularly low-income students who may not have the same learning opportunities as their peers over the summer. The district showed a video Wednesday on the compounding effect learning loss can have on low-income students.
The district also is aware of the challenges of switching to a balanced calendar. Among them: the impact on child care, student athletes, and the summer construction season. Also of concern: whether schools can be adequately cooled for summer instruction.
Temperatures in the Olympia area last summer rose above 100 degrees.
After district staff provided an overview of the proposal, parents heard from members of a North Thurston Public Schools steering committee, which was formed to study the topic. After they spoke, the parents were broken into small groups to share their thoughts.
Shaconnie Grubb, who said she has two children enrolled in the district, raised two common questions among parents on Wednesday: Why couldn’t students receive targeted instruction during summer to combat learning loss without changing the school year?
She also questioned whether some students would truly get a break throughout the school year.
That question was asked by many because the district envisions offering enrichment or remediation classes during the various school breaks.
“I’m open to it,” Grubb said about a balanced calendar, “but I still have questions.”
Another parent said the traditional 11-week summer break is the enrichment time for his children, a chance to pursue all kinds of outdoor activities.
Also raised on Wednesday: summer jobs and the teens that rely on them.
River Ridge High School student Richard Thomas, a member of the steering committee, offered two perspectives. One downside to a balanced calendar school year is that Lacey’s large military community might struggle with the transition from a traditional school year elsewhere to a balanced school year here, he said.
The upside is better academic performance, Thomas said.
“Ultimately, it could help students see what their potential is as far as how good they could do academically,” he said, adding that can only improve their chances at going to college or getting a job.
The next community forums are 6-7 p.m. Jan. 26 at Nisqually Middle School, 8100 Steilacoom Road SE, and Feb. 2 at Salish Middle School, 8605 Campus Glen Drive NE. The Salish meeting will be streamed online.
The district also is set to release a balanced calendar community survey in February and March, followed by a vote of the school board on the proposal in May. If approved by the board, a balanced calendar would be implemented for the 2023-2024 school year.
This story was originally published January 20, 2022 at 5:45 AM.
