Want A/C? Get year-round schools

This is in response to the front page headline and article in the Sept. 6 paper, referencing the need for teachers to have air-conditioned rooms, in fact the entire school air-conditioned.

I truly feel for them, as working in extreme heat conditions makes for tough learning environments. I am truly in favor of putting out the added tax payers money for their comfort, but as in any request, I feel there should be some true give and take in order to suggest that we, the tax payers, should willingly spend some $20 million for their brief comfort.

My suggestion therefore is, if air conditioned schools are something deemed necessary and $20 million need be spent, then I feel the district should adapt a year-round school system. Not only would year-round school, enable the air-conditioned buildings to be used to their fullest, it would also enable the schools to make better use of the teachers, and to teach more students with out building additional schools.

Year-round schooling would allow for better learning from the students, as the long summers usually mean there are weeks taken up just bringing them up to speed in the fall. Vacations would be staggered, summers with nothing to do would be eliminated, and the entire system would be run more efficiently. That after all is what this is all about, isn't it? Better learning conditions for the students.

I don't know the complete logistics of such a system, but I do know there are many school districts that have changed to year-round and have had great success with them. Why not consider that in the equation, so the monies spent on air-conditioned buildings could come from other projects or expenses that would be unnecessary, like additions and new schools.

I have heard from parents who thought the idea was bad in the beginning, but have changed their opinions, after seeing just how much more is accomplished and how efficient the system really is.

Louise Baron

St. Charles