Dist. 220 mulls benefits of schedule changes
Barrington Unit District 220 board members Tuesday began to prioritize and seek more details about recent staff suggestions for adjusting the school day and school year.
The idea that seemed to meet with the most initial enthusiasm was the possibility of starting the school year earlier in August so high school students would complete the fall semester and its final exams before winter break.
Board Member Joseph Ruffolo said such an adjustment in Leyden High School District 212 where he's a teacher was initially met with much concern by staff, but now is embraced by them.
“There's definitely an education that needs to happen for the staff,” Ruffolo said. “I can't say enough good things about it.”
Board Member Penny Kazmier said she's already heard general concerns about the idea from elementary school parents, but that high school parents seem more aware of the positive side of it.
While such a change is not expected to have any impact on costs, Barrington High School Principal Steve McWilliams pointed out that there would be a shorter summer during the year of transition and an ongoing impact to fall sports — particularly their summer camps.
Board President Brian Battle suggested it was worth preparing a detailed schedule of such a school year to be able to explain it adequately to parents and get their educated opinion of the pros and cons.
The board also directed Superintendent Tom Leonard to estimate the cost of having some more buses in the district's fleet to handle the impact on transportation if the popular wish of a later start time for Barrington High School's school day was granted in the future.
In contrast with that is the wish of many elementary teachers for an earlier start time to their day, said Grove Avenue School Principal Cynthia Kalogeropoulos.
The district is also looking into how likely it is to have the available space to offer full-day kindergarten and whether it would charge parents a fee for that option.
Though not as initially popular as the other ideas, the possibilities of extending the school day or school year are also being looked at as part of the district's 2020 strategic plan.