Marshall County Board Meets About Year-Round Schooling - WVNS-TV

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Marshall County Board Meets About Year-Round Schooling
Posted Tuesday, October 27, 2009 ; 11:32 PM | View Comments | Post Comment
Updated Wednesday, October 28, 2009; 09:02 AM

The Marshall County Board of Education met on Tuesday night to discuss year-round schooling. Three schools in West Virginia already follow a year round schedule.

Story by Crissy Clutter
Email | Bio | Other Stories by Crissy Clutter

MOUNDSVILLE -- Piedmont Elementary School Principal Steve Knighton called summer vacation the "season of forgetting."

Tuesday night, Knighton spoke to the Marshall County Board of Education about year-round schooling.

"It's hard to convince people who haven't tried it. I offer parents the hope that this will benefit their child and give it a try ... we've been doing it 14 years," said Piedmont.

Right now, three schools in West Virginia follow a year-round schedule. Instead of students getting three months off for summer vacation, they have several smaller breaks throughout the year.

West Virginia Gov. Joe Manchin has showed some of interest in the topic and said educators should learn as much as possible about year-round schooling.

Marshall County Superintendent Fred Renzella said the ideas are interesting, but year-round schooling isn't going to happen right now.

"I will venture to say that we will see a longer day and a longer year, but I'm not sure when, but I would say the next 10 to 12 years," Renzella said.

Opponents of year-round schooling believe changing the schedule could potentially disrupt family life and cost the county money.

Supporters said year-long schedules cut the amount of time spent reviewing after summer breaks.

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from fl
11/2/09 at 8:16 PM

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I lived in central Fl when my kids were in school and year round school did not work! At one time almost every school district in Fl had tried year round school then stopped it because the kids were falling so far behind on standardized tests. They figured this out 10 years ago! Why is WV so far behind thinking this is a new and good idea! Why don't they just learn from the mistakes that other states made years ago!

Dawn Allen
10/29/09 at 10:07 AM

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I have to disagree with all of you about this. I am from the area but now live in NC. We have year round schools, my daughter was in one when we first moved here. She and I enjoyed the scheduling that comes with it. They are in school exactly the same amount of time as the traditional schedule kids, 180 days, all major holidays are off, and they get a 3 wk break every 9 wks. If you really look at the amount of time that traditional schedule kids have for summer break, it no longer amounts to 3 months, they mostly get out June 10 and go back Aug 24.

Dawn Allen
10/29/09 at 10:06 AM

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Martha
10/29/09 at 7:48 AM

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I have mixed feelings on this. On one hand the children forget so much of what they've learned the previous year that they spend weeks being reminded of what they learned last year before they can begin to learn anything new this year, so the long break isn't good. On the other hand, when they have big breaks like Spring and Christmas they have a hard time getting their heads back in the books and they still need to be reminded unless these breaks come at natural breaks like the end of a nine weeks where they will start a new lesson anyway. But as we know these breaks, Spring and Christmas, does not. So it doesn't seem like year round will solve the problem, but only cause more of them.

Debbie
10/29/09 at 12:26 AM

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There is no way I would agree to send my child to school year round. Think of when YOU were in school. Would you have liked to go year round? There are some kids who hate school already. Are we TRYING to raise the amount of kids that quit? I would just have to home school my son if it came to this in Ohio. I am his boss. NOT the government, school, judge, etc. It is I whom holds the certificate of his birth meaning I am in control of his life until he old enough to be in control himself. People seem to forget that. Our kids are OURS ,not the states or anyone elses.

cricket
10/28/09 at 10:12 PM

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Many children have very enriching experiences on summer break. Going to camp , visiting with grandparents or a parent in another state and going on family vacations are all worthwhile events and as in my own case will be remembered forever. Children need an education but they also need a break from formal schooling so they can actually experience the things that will make them a well rounded citizen. A child can read all the books in the world about interesting places but if they have a chance to actually go to that place they will learn so much more than in a classroom. I know all chilren do not have these types of activities but most kids do have special things they do in summer that shouldn't be taken away. They need to learn that there is life beyond school . I don't understand why the" quantity" of school is focused on instead of the "quality" of what they are being taught.

nosmart
10/28/09 at 11:02 AM

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full year make14 grades, last 2 jr. collage. cut out a lot of the nonsense. make school a place to learn, not to play.

Robert
10/28/09 at 10:50 AM

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Sure why not? Might as well get them used to 60 hour work weeks like most of have these days while we're at it. Why should the youth get to enjoy things such as camp outs and little leagues. Let's brainwash them into workaholics at an early age. The times of the great American personal life are over.

Kathy
10/28/09 at 10:03 AM

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I don't think kids should go to school year round. They need the break. Just one more thing that the government is trying to take over. If we all stand up and fight for what is right maybe we can get America back on track.

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