Community High School District 99 is considering a new type of calendar for the 2017-18 school year, and is seeking broad community input through an online survey. Please access the survey here, which will be open through March 4, 2016. Everyone in the District 99 community is invited to respond.
Traditionally, District 99 has followed a school calendar that ends its first semester in January, after a winter break. Many high schools in the area have adopted a calendar that ends the first semester before the winter break, and District 99 is considering adopting this type of calendar for the 2017-18 school year.
“Shifting our calendar to end the first semester before winter break is appealing to many people, primarily because it would allow students to finish a semester of work and enjoy a true break during the winter holiday season,” says District 99 Superintendent Dr. Mark McDonald. “This will fundamentally change our calendar, though, in that we will either need to start the school year earlier in August and/or delay the start of our winter break to later in December.”
At its meeting on February 1, 2016, the District 99 Board of Education approved the 2016-17 school calendar, which follows a traditional schedule. The majority of the Board members, however, expressed a desire to adopt a calendar for 2017-18 that will have the first semester ending before the winter break, while also adhering as closely as possible to the school calendars of associated elementary and middle school districts.
It has been the practice of District 99 to collaborate with the elementary and middle school districts to coordinate calendars, so that students in the community can follow similar school schedules. District 99 receives students from District 58 (Downers Grove), District 60 (Maercker), District 61 (Darien), District 66 (Center-Cass) and District 68 (Woodridge), as well as many private schools.
The Board of Education is expected to discuss the 2017-18 calendar at its meeting on May 2, 2016.
For additional background about the District 99 calendar study, including results from previous surveys and sample calendars, please go to this link.
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