School year may change
Hemet Unified students would return to the classroom on Aug. 14 under a proposal
BY KEVIN PEARSON
STAFF WRITER [email protected]
The Hemet Unified School District will consider changing its academic calendar, with an earlier start date than in previous years.
Under the proposal, which is likely to come up for vote later this month, next school year would begin Aug. 14. A variety of reasons are behind the idea.
For one, the change would put Hemet on the same schedule as neighboring districts San Jacinto and Temecula.
Additionally, school officials expect it could help improve high school students’ grades. Under the new calendar, the first semester will end before winter break, whereas now students have to take their final exams shortly after they return from break.
“If you wait until after the break to give your finals, there is that period where everyone forgets a lot of stuff,” Superintendent Steven Lowder said. “The continuity of learning tends to be broken. That’s been a perennial complaint as far back as I can remember.”
The change would also make the length of the first and second semesters more equal. The first semester is currently a seven classroom days — two total weeks — longer than the second.
The 175-day academic calendar would conclude May 31, about the same as now.
With the year starting earlier but ending at the same time, students’ winter break would be extended from two weeks to three.
Just as they do now, students will get a week off for Thanksgiving, a week off in February and a week off in April.
The district already has received approval from the Hemet Teachers Association to make the changes.
The proposal is expected to come before the school board at its Jan. 17 meeting, which will begin at 6:30 p.m. at 1791 W. Acacia Ave.
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