Parents respond to new school schedule

Danette Goulet

NEWPORT-MESA -- Parents argued that a three-week winter break is too much

time off for students after reviewing the district’s draft of a new

school schedule.

The proposed calendar has pros and cons for different families, but most

parents agreed that the current winter holiday was enough.

“Three weeks at Christmas is too long,” said Michelle Graham, PTA

president at Adams Elementary School in Costa Mesa.

Newport-Mesa Unified School District officials last week announced plans

to rearrange the school calendar, making summer vacations shorter and

extending winter and spring breaks.

The district’s goal is to create a schedule where there are shorter

breaks between school sessions for students -- especially for those

learning the English language, said Lorri McCune, assistant

superintendent of human resources.

Graham said a long winter break -- although not as lengthy as summer

vacation -- could still disrupt a student’s learning process.

“One thing brought up by the district was how does [a long summer] impact

English-language learners,” Graham said. “With three weeks in December,

they might have a real hard time grasping it. I don’t think that’s very

good.”

The purpose behind the extended breaks, however, is to offer additional

remedial courses for students struggling with English, McCune said.

However, parents contend that three weeks is too long for all students.

“Three weeks at the holidays might be a little too long,” said Candi

Scott, PTA president at Newport Elementary School. “Probably by the time

they get back, they’ll forget why they are in school to begin with.”

They have also questioned the two-week spring break, which might conflict

with the timing of the Stanford Achievement Test, known as SAT 9.

While the alternative schedule may work for students in grades seven

through 12 who take their tests in the early spring, Graham said

elementary students would have a two-week break right before the big

test.

“Telling the kids you have two weeks off and then have to come back and

take a test is tough,” Graham said. “It could affect the grading.”

Parents were also concerned about the other major change: returning to

school early.

“The problem with starting in mid-August is that some of our schools

don’t have air-conditioning,” Graham said. “Even starting in September

can be grueling. Kids are instructed to bring water bottles all the way

through September currently.”

District officials said they presented the draft to parents for the sole

purpose of gaining feedback.

Despite their many concerns, parents are thrilled to be asked for their

input and have responded with suggesting a week off at Thanksgiving.

“I love it,” Scott said. “What I really love is that they are letting the

parents have a say in this. That is just exciting to me.”