BY CRAIG SHULTZ
The length of students’ winter break became an issue this week before Hemet Unified School District board members, who decided next year’s school calendar needs more study before a decision can be made. The only proposal that had been public before the Tuesday, March 6, meeting showed a 175-day instructional calendar with classes beginning Aug.12 and ending May 30. The document included a note stating five days could be added during the first week of June, if the budget allowed. That brought a number of educators to the meeting, asking the board to restore five unpaid furlough days. Trustees had another calendar option, with the five days included, and board members said it was alwaystheir intention to add those days back. “The 180-day schedule, in terms of restoring the furlough days, has never been in question,” Superintendent Barry Kayrell said. Once that was settled, debate turned to the winter break. Both calendar proposals called for three weeks off at Christmas. The first day of classes was moved one week so the first semester would start earlier and end by the break, allowing high school students to take their final exams before the vacation. That concept was backed by high school educators, such as Hemet High Principal Emily Shaw, who said students will benefit by being on a schedule similar to that of pupils in neighboring districts. Earlier finals will help them when it comes to applying for college, Shaw said. Trustees seemed to like that concept, although Joe Wojcik and Lisa DeForest argued that three weeks is too long to be off in the middle of a school year and suggested keeping a two-week break. Wojcik said children will get bored with an extra week off and forget some of what they learned. He also said a shorter summer could affect family vacations. He suggested the same start date, but a two-week winter break and earlier end to the school year, Trustee Bill Sanborn said there is no way to set a school calendar that will please every employee, student and parent. “It doesn’t matter what I do, someone is going to hate me,” he said. “It’s a no-win (situation).” Kayrell said people will like the longer winter break once they get used to it. “The first year of the conversion is the hardest because you have to make adjustment in your personal schedule,” he said. Sanborn brought forward a proposal to end the year June 6, and Wojcik countered with a May 30 last day, but neither got a majority vote. It was ultimately decided to study the calendar more and solicit input from employees and parents, before voting on it at a future meeting. “As a board member, I don’t work real well with surprises ,” Paul Bakkom said. “The public needs time to ponder what we put out there.” Follow Craig Shultz on Twitter @PE_CraigShultz or online at blog. pe.com/hemet