Two proposed "balanced"

calendars for Fayette County schools' 2003-04 school year are now "on

the table."

Developed by a special staff

committee, the calendars created a stir last month when schools circulated

them for parental comment. During Monday's Board of Education meeting,

board members discussed the proposals and put them on the table for a

vote March 18.

School board officials say

both calendars are in keeping with recent trends toward a balanced approach

to the school year, with less time off for summer vacation than once was

the norm, but more time off during the school year.

But some parents object to

that idea, saying it's hard on parents to arrange baby-sitting or time

off when school vacation is split up like that. Some also accused the

board of moving toward year-round school.

"The idea is to move away

from the old agrarian calendar," admitted assistant Superintendent

Stuart Bennett, but he said there's no plan to go completely to year-round

school.

Actually, he said, of the two

proposed calendars, only one actually shortens the current summer vacation.

Under option two, classes start the second Monday in August, Aug. 11,

the same as this year and next. Students report a week earlier, Aug. 4,

under option one.

In responding to requests for

input on the calendars, parents at 13 schools and faculty at 21 schools

favor option one, according to a tally presented by the staff committee

that developed the two options.

Faculty at one school favored

option two, along with parents at two schools. A few schools' comments

were evenly split.

But many parents have also

commented negatively on both proposals. "We've received a good bit

of input," said Bennett.

"The teachers have been

very positive. Nine of ten have been in favor" of the proposals,

Bennett told The Citizen last month. "But we're getting some negative

[comments] from the community."

Juliette Babb, who headed the

faculty committee that developed the calendars, said it has been several

years since local school systems started moving away from the old system

of starting school after labor day, and they did it in response to changes

in college calendars. "Colleges went on the semester system,"

she said, "and if you didn't finish [local school semesters] by Christmas,

those who wanted to enter college the second semester couldn't do it."

In addition to starting school

a week earlier or later, the main difference between the two proposals

is that option one provides a full week off at Thanksgiving, whereas option

two uses some of that time for a longer spring break and days off for

Veterans Day and staff development.

Schools have received "extremely

positive" comments about the extra time off at Thanksgiving, Babb

said. She said having more breaks during the school year will allow time

for remediation so students who are struggling don't have to wait until

summer school to catch up. And there will be time for "acceleration"

as well, for special programs for gifted students, she said.

The calendar proposals are

available at the Board of Education office as well as in local schools.

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