Glenbard District 87 students could start school early next year
Glenbard High School District 87 students could return to classes in mid-August next year.
The school board is expected to vote later this month to approve the new, earlier start date.
The new date would allow students to take finals before winter break - and enjoy the holidays without the pressures of studying for first-semester exams.
"As a parent of children, I think the opportunity to have finals done before winter break is good for families," Assistant Superintendent Josh Chambers said. "That in and of itself is a really positive step forward as we look at our school calendar."
The draft 2017-18 calendar has students beginning classes Aug. 16, three school days earlier than this year.
The district is able to move up the start of school now that all four campuses are fully air-conditioned, Chambers said.
A new cooling plant was installed this summer at Glenbard West High School, the oldest building in the district and the last without a schoolwide air-conditioning system. Glenbard East High School got A/C in summer 2015.
Both projects are part of a decadelong, roughly $100 million plan to improve the four high schools.
The proposed calendar also calls for the first semester ending Dec. 22. Winter break would run through Jan. 5, 2018. Classes would resume for the second semester Jan. 9.
Students are slated to finish the year May 25 - before Memorial Day.
The district has not yet finalized plans for the 2018 graduation ceremonies, but would likely move commencement up, too. Glenbard East and North seniors currently graduate off-site at the College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn.
A committee of administrators who represent each school and meet twice a year helped develop the proposed calendar with feedback from parents. Two unions that represent district employees - the Glenbard Education Association and the American Federation of School, County and Municipal Employees - also reviewed the changes.
The school board is set to vote on the new calendar during a meeting in the district's main offices at 7 p.m. Nov. 14.
Some neighboring districts that feed students into the high schools generally align their calendars with District 87.
Glen Ellyn Elementary District 41 recently convened a committee that will make a recommendation for its 2017-18 calendar during a school board meeting Nov. 21.
Students in both District 41 and District 87 kicked off the current school year Aug. 22.