PEORIA, Ill. – Peoria Public Schools officials say a school testing out a modified school-year calendar is seeing good luck with implementation.
Harrison Community Learning Center is the tester, after public backlash resulted in a proposed balanced calendar idea being rejected.
This one would shorten the summer but allow for some extended breaks during the school year.
“It’s breaking up the school year, but giving [students] breaks to rejuvenate and rest before regression sets in,” said Fabian Daniels, Harrison Community Learning Center principal.
Daniels says not only was there marked improvement in student performance, teachers were also able to get much-needed rest, helping them perform better, too.
“They are there, ready to go, and the students are getting what they need from our dedicated teachers,” said Daniels. “But, just like everyone, they get to a wall where they need a break. This October break is what the staff needed to come back rejuvenated, refreshed, and ready to go.”
Daniels says she’s seen the use of substitute teachers go down at Harrison, as much as she’s seen student retention increase and learning regression decrease.
District administrators are looking at having the school board vote on a proposal to move every school to a modified calendar in January. But, not everyone on the Peoria Public Schools Board is in favor.
“I don’t know if it’s appropriate for all of our populations within the district,” said board member Ami Reinking. “So, I would just want to make sure that it’s not a rubber stamp for all of the schools.”
Reinking also says she’s not sure that teachers at some other schools will buy in to the idea as much as Harrison teachers did. District officials said if all schools adopted a modified calendar, there would be operating efficiencies. Other board members suggested phasing in a modified calendar, which the district says also would be difficult.
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