PEORIA, Ill. — Peoria Public Schools are examining what a change to a “balanced calendar” would look like within the district.
In a balanced calendar concept, there is less time working consecutive days between breaks and fewer days of summer break.
Below is a graph of what the calendar currently looks like compared to a balanced calendar that was presented at Monday night’s Board of Education meeting.
Summer vacation would be cut in half, from 60 days down to 30. However, a fall break of 15 days would be implemented as well as an extension of spring break to 15 days.
This type of calendar lessens the number of consecutive days students are working, according to Dr. Sandra Wilson.
Wilson also said it comes at a time when a balanced calendar would “address COVID-19 learning loss and accelerate learning.”
The earliest the modified schedule would be implemented would be for the 2021-2022 school year, as the Balanced Calendar Committee is holding meetings in the coming months to examine the impact of the calendar on various stakeholders throughout the district.
The change has been being considered and discussed since 2017, but there was one thing holding them back.
“It was determined that a balanced calendar option should be revisited with a start date that aligned with all school buildings having air conditioning,” said Wilson. “By Aug. 4, 2021, all of our buildings will be fully air conditioned.
“Additionally, we find ourselves looking for a way to intensely support our students social, emotional and academic needs that have been impacted by the pandemic.”
Wilson also added that the extra days off would be used for intervention for students who needed it.
The committee will gather feedback from stakeholders and present findings to the board monthly. The committee plans to open a parent/staff survey in February and ask for approval from the board in April.
