LOUISVILLE, KY. (WDRB) -- A shorter summer vacation, more breaks during the year, and a targeted plan for making up severe weather days -- those are the goals as JCPS considers major changes to when students attend school.
When the snow comes down, the wind blows, or the waters rise, JCPS has to decide whether classes are canceled. When they are, the district goes into flux.
JCPS Board Member Linda Duncan explains, "We've had to make a lot of adjustments on graduation dates. So it became a challenge to set an end day for the school system and we began to look at a plan for how we could better do this."
Here's the result of that plan:
A new school calendar proposal creates six additional days off, but students would use those days first as makeup days if classes are cancelled for weather.
The first three days are in October, the second three in February. If unused and combined with teacher work days, it turns into two full weeks off for students.
Some campuses would stay open on weather days for recovery work with students who have fallen behind. Duncan explains, "It's a good spot for makeup and recovery work if students need it at that point because it's not too far into the trimester, but they have gone through a grading period."
Reaction, though, is mixed, with one parent, Tracie Stevens, saying, "In October, are we really going to have inclement weather between August and October." Others worry about scheduling conflicts. Parent Erica Sims points out, "The change will be fine, it's really just reallocating the time off that the students have, so instead of having 10 weeks off in summer there will be two additional weeks off during school time.
The change would set the calendar for the next two years. Classes would start August 15th and end June 5th .
Winter and spring break will still be there, but winter break would start later, which means classes will go closer to Christmas.
JCPS posted a video to its website to educate parents on the plan, saying it's not a done deal, and that leaders want feedback.
Board Member Linda Duncan says, "From the results I've seen, is about 60-40 -- 60 in favor of embedding those days."
A 37-member committee made up of teachers, parents, and principals designed the new calendar proposal.
Here's the link to that informational video.
A final vote is expected in February.
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