Huntley students may get choice for shorter summer break

Students can be forgiven if they feel like they're in a time machine during the first weeks of school.

That's because after a long summer spent taking family trips, students typically have to spend those weeks relearning skills they were taught the previous year.

Under a proposal recently floated by Huntley Unit District 158 Superintendent John Burkey, some students in the district would have less time to backslide during the summer and more time during the school year to reinforce those skills.

Burkey is hoping to introduce on an optional basis what is called a "balanced calendar." The concept would break the school year into four quarters, each separated by three weeks. Summer break would be only five or six weeks.

During the three weeks that separate the quarters, the district would offer remedial classes as well as enrichment activities.

"I've always felt a balanced calendar is a very good educational option," Burkey said. "If you have a shorter summer vacation, you have less regression."

Burkey wants to solicit feedback from parents and board members before formally making a proposal. Because of a host of logistical issues, implementing a balanced calendar even on a trial basis could take two years, he said.

The superintendent's proposal comes as parents are urging the school board to move the date when classes start to late August or even after Labor Day. Classes began on Aug. 20 this year.

"I put my kids to bed and the sun is still setting when school starts," said Nicole Raclawski, an Algonquin mother. "It's just way too early."

Some summer sports run until late July, giving families a short window of time to schedule vacations.

"When you have kids in sports, they no more get done with those activities before you have to go back to school," said Lake in the Hills mother Tammy Zeller.

Burkey said parents also need to consider when classes end for the year and that starting later gives students less time to prepare for state assessments in the spring.

"When you're talking two weeks, that instructional time really does matter for the assessments," Burkey said.

Burkey said he will probably recommend tying the start date to two weeks before Labor Day to help families plan. The board is set to vote on the 2010-11 calendar in December.