School boards set to approve earlier start date

All three area school boards are in support of a 2016-2017 school calendar with a start date that's a week earlier than it has been in recent years.

Staunton, Waynesboro and Augusta County school boards will likely vote to approve the calendars, which have start dates of Aug. 9, at their June meetings. The three school divisions have been working together to align their academic calendars, making it easier for regional programs to function, such as Valley Career and Technical School and the Shenandoah Valley Governor's School.

Augusta County school board member Nick Collins said the board is in favor of the proposed calendar, that ending the first semester before students leave for winter break will benefit the students, rather than having them come back after two weeks and immediately be tested on material they haven't pick up in weeks.

"It causes a real disconnect and I think our test scores will improve," Collins said.

The 2016-2017 calendar, if approved, will mean a shorter summer break for students next summer, following the 2015-2016 school year. But after next summer, students will return to the normal amount of summer vacation, the last day of school being May 24.

Waynesboro School Board chairman Doug Norcross said the board supports the calendar change.

"I think we're all in agreement," he said.

If the calendar is approved, teachers will return to the classroom at the end of July.

Staunton school board chairman Ron Ramsey said all three area school boards are in agreement that the proposed calendar will benefit students and by aligning them, make things easier for everyone.

He added that the year the calendar is introduced may mean changes and adjustments for parents, especially with vacation plans.

"It may take some time for people to adjust their plans," Ramsey said.

While school board members are in agreement over the new calendar, parents are not yet sold. Many feel that summer break should be protected and sending students back early will take away needed break time.

Parent Christine Hupp Bird commented on The News Leader's Facebook page saying, "In my opinion school shouldn't start until after Labor day anyways. The earlier you start school, the earlier sports tryouts are, then that really starts taking away from families vacations."

Many parents have the same feeling as Bird. However, some feel the change makes sense and that giving up a week in August means gaining time at the end of the school year.

Staunton parent of a Robert E. Lee High School sophomore, Vicki Bellamy feels that ending the first semester before winter break and the second semester at the end of May — right after Standards of Learning tests and Advanced Placement tests are over — makes more sense for teachers and students, particularly high school students.

"It's hard for students to have 10 days off and then be tested on the material," Bellamy said. "Some students will be diligent and study over break, but many won't."

She added that this calendar allows for more instructional time before SOLs and AP tests, rather than after the tests have been taken, when many students have checked out for the year.

The Augusta County school board will vote on the calendar on June 4, Staunton on June 8 and Waynesboro on June 9.