(Lawrenceburg, Ind.) - If you were a student or teacher, would you trade a 30 day summer vacation for longer breaks during the school year?

That’s what Lawrenceburg Community Schools are considering going to a balanced calendar for the 2012-2013 school year. Superintendent Karl Galey will present the concept with parents, staff, and community members at a meeting set for Wednesday, March 9 at 6:00 p.m. in the Lawrenceburg High School auditorium. A working draft will be shared at the community meeting.

A notice announcing the meeting says information and data has already been collected and shared with staff and school board members, as well student groups.

A survey for parents and community residents will also be available on the school corporation’s website the morning following the meeting.

According to the National Association for Year-Round Education, a balanced calendar would create a shorter summer break lasting only one month, but allow for two week long winter, spring, and fall breaks.

The NAYRE's model for a balanced calendar is not specifically what Lawrenceburg may be looking at. Galey says the district's concept of a balanced schedule remains open a this point. 

Under tha NAYRE model, class would be in session each year for three 45-day blocks and a 30- and 15-day block split by Thanksgiving break between the breaks.  The calendar would meet the Indiana Department of Education’s requirement for 180 student days.

Traditional school calendars used by Lawrenceburg and most other school districts features a long summer vacation of 12 weeks followed by a long period of in-session days until Thanksgiving. Winter break is followed by 55 in-session days before spring break then the final 40 days of the year.

LINKS:

NAYRE - http://www.nayre.org/calendar_comparison.htm