9/9/14 - Howell Schools officials are looking for parents who want to help examine the possibility of implementing a new calendar for elementary students. Of the large issues scheduled to be reviewed by committee in the Howell Public Schools district, the one chosen to be examined first was the balanced calendar. Under that system, students would have a shorter summer break of about six weeks, but one- or two-week breaks would be scattered throughout the school year. The goal of the program is to reduce the amount of material lost by students over the extended summer break, and School Board President Mike Witt says it has been shown to improve test scores in districts where it has been implemented. Last night, school board members called on residents to make their opinions known to the district about the proposed program. Witt tells WHMI the district is forming a parent group to contribute to the examination and discussion of balanced calendar. Parents of elementary students are being sought to be part of a committee and voice their opinions, for or against, while participating in an aggressive schedule of committee work and site visits. Witt emphasized that even if the district implements balanced calendar, it will be an opt-in program only. Traditional calendar will still be available in the district, and nobody will be forced to take part in the balanced calendar program. (TD)
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