READERS RESPOND

AT ISSUE: The Newport-Mesa school district has proposed a class schedule

that would shorten summer vacation and make longer winter and spring

breaks.

My children go to Adams School in Costa Mesa, and I am the PTA President

at Adams. You have asked for comment to this new calendar being proposed,

and the operative word is “proposed.”

In your article (“District plans to change area’s school calendar,” Feb.

19) you made it sound as though it were going to happen. This needs to go

through a lot of negotiations with a lot of people.

As to the information we PTA presidents received, it was stamped 14 times

with the word “draft.” I’m hoping the district can come up with a

compromise.

Here are some concerns I have with some parts of the proposed calendar:

Starting school in the middle of August seems a little much. If you can

recall, most of our schools do not have air conditioning and sometimes

even starting school in the second week of September can be really

grueling for all involved -- staff, teachers and students.

Secondly, three weeks off for winter break seem a little too long.

According to the alternative calendar, summer break would be six and a

half weeks and winter break is three weeks. What happens to the students

learning the English language then? If they are so concerned about this,

they need to look at this part again.

Thirdly is the two weeks off at spring break. If you recall again, our

testing (SAT9) is done around this time of the year in elementary

schools. To give two weeks off before a major test is probably not in the

best interest of the students or teachers.

Thank you for giving me this opportunity to speak out on this issue. Just

remember that this is in the draft stage and a lot has to be done.

MICHELE GRAHAM

Costa Mesa

In response to the article, “Parents respond to draft of new school

schedule,” Feb. 25, it states, “Parents argued that a three-week winter

break is too much time off for students.” And 10-plus weeks for summer

break is OK?

Winter break goes by quickly with the first week being that crazy madness

before Christmas, and then it’s just one more week before they are back.

What harm is one more week?

This same school calendar was brought up years ago for the elementary

schools and filtered into Costa Mesa High School to possibly work off the

Wilson Elementary School calendar. And that is basically what is being

repeated now.

I attended the meeting held at Costa Mesa High School and it had a poor

attendance of only a couple dozen parents. Only a handful of us were for

the new calendar, it seemed; the majority were against it. They were

against it because they were involved in this or other school districts

themselves and it would have been inconvenient for them if there were any

changes.

Well how about the rest of us who have to amuse and entertain our

students over the long summer break while we have to work? The schedule

as it is now is not very convenient for us.

A neighbor of ours is a teacher in the Tustin school district, where

there are year-round classes. She said it is a good thing for the

students -- they retain more when the year is broken up with shorter

breaks.

Ten-plus weeks during the summer is way too long. The long summer break

was originally suited for the farming community, and I ask you, how many

of us are farming these days in Newport--Mesa?

And the excuse that it is too hot to come back earlier is weak. Our

hottest months the past few years have been September into October.

An extra week for winter break, spring break and Thanksgiving would be

great; and families could plan trips at other times of the year.

As the diversity in our population is changing, so do our vacation

destinations. And for some of us, summer is the least desirable time to

visit relatives overseas.

ERIN TRIPP

Costa Mesa

We are so fortunate to live in sunny summer vacationland. Typically in

August the sun, is out bright and early and the ocean is finally warm

enough for a swim without a wetsuit.

But district officials are considering making our children return to the

classroom in mid-August. School’s summer vacation needs to extend

through, and include, both Fourth of July fireworks and Labor Day

festivities, or it just won’t be a true summer break.

Students need this extended time to rest and refresh themselves, in order

to fully apply all their efforts in the next hectic school year.

Please join me and communicate to Newport-Mesa Unified School District,

before it is too late, that we want to keep our local summer traditions,

culture and heritage intact.

B. BECK

Costa Mesa