Since Jo Co is not doing so well in planning for the future concerning school, where do you stand on the year round option? Personally I am not sure. I think some aspects would be great but during that time out who would watch the kids, are the daycares going to change etc..
If we do land up going that way, yes, I do believe the daycares will change. If they don't, they would be out of business. What they offer families now is a reaction to what the public school do. For example, their hours depend on public schools to some part and most of them are open on school holidays and teacher workdays. where there is demand, the supply will come-at least with something like this. I really surprised that year-round schools hasn't come up here yet. I keep expecting it with every new ES that opens. I know that there are some families would like to have that as an option. I have friends who have had their children at year-round Timer Drive ES. They wouldn't have it any other way. For some families, it's a great choice. Many homeschoolers also operate on a year-round schedule.
I personally would love it! We would not have to take our vacations to Disney in the middle of the summer. We would go in the fall when the weather is much nicer!! Plus, the summers are way too long for the kids and it seems to take them a while to get back in the groove of the things. That way if it were shorter breaks then it would not be as hard for the kids to get back on the school routine. In addition, parents would not have to find summer care for such a long length of time. I am sure the area businesses (child care) would have to accomodate to the schools. I know there is a lot more to it than that, but it seems like a good idea. I remember hearing a year or so ago that there was going to be an elementary school in the Cleveland area that was going to pilot it for the county. Anyone know anything about that???
We run our homeschool on a year round calendar. It is wonderful! We take 2 week breaks in Sept. and March. A three week break over Christmas. We are finished by Memorial Day and start back the week after July 4th. It is usually so hot in July and August we are inside a lot any way. Plus those are two months with the least outside activities going on (sports, church activities, etc...) so we get some highly focused schooling in. On a year round calendar I'm finding we can skip the first 1/4-1/3 of some materials because they are designed to spend the first quarter of the school year reviewing. The children have not had enough time to forget so no need to do that much review. AND ... we get to take vacations at "off-season" rates There are MANY Wake Co. daycares and enrichment programs that offer "track out" camps for children on year round calendars. I don't think it would be an issue in Johnston Co.
I agree with everyone else. If you would need daycare, they would accomodate. Daycares are tradionally on the same calendar as the county schools. I think it would be better on the children to retain their knowledge and it would give parents more vacation time options.
About 2yrs ago (I think) there was a mtg at West HS and the Board of Ed, commissioners, Sheriff Bizzell etc were all there. The question of yr round schools came up, from what I remember they (Board of Ed) said that they'd looked at that option and were opposed for several reasons such as: Yes, you get more kids in one school, but not as many as you might think (its not like its going to double the capacity of one school), there is the yr round costs (utilities, custodial, supplies etc) and more 'wear and tear' on the school itself. Also, that yr round is not going to solve the overcrowding problem, it would be a bandaide and that new schools will still have to be built. You also have problems with sports and all those kids feeding into ' traditional' high schools at some point. Basically they were trying to show that JoCo just needs to build more schools, not just go to yr round, because in the end it just prolongs the schools that are needed in getting built. I tend to agree with their points.
I completely agree with AWmom. I personally would love year round schools for my kids, summer break is waaaay too long. And as much as I try to convince myself I'm going to keep my kids refreshed over the summer so they don't forget what they've learned, I never do it that often! I know it's not for everyone, but I definitely would love to have that option. Maybe someday...
I would like yr round too, especially for vacations and breaks. But I guess from a financial standpoint, I would rather see the tax dollars be used in the best way, in the long-run. I think no matter what, we're always going to have overcrowded schools. There's no way to keep up with all the development going up all around us! :evil:
