San Diego Unified Could Start School Before Labor Day

Summer break could soon begin and end earlier for students in the San Diego Unified School District. The school board is voting Tuesday evening on a proposal to start the 2016-2017 school year before Labor Day.

The SDUSD is currently the only local district to start after the holiday weekend, and the school year wraps up at the end of June.

So the district asked for input from parents on a proposal to change that, instead making Aug. 29 the start day in 2016. The proposal applies to that year alone.

According to the district, most liked the idea. Student Ramon Hendle said he would like to have mid-terms done before Christmas.

β€œYou don't have to worry as much over Christmas break and stuff trying to remember things,” he said.

Others would appreciate the long Labor Day weekend right after starting school, to get students immersed more slowly.

But Nicole Curtis, a Lakeside substitute teacher whose children start early and get out early, said she likes to start after Labor Day with no interruption.

β€œI feel like summer doesn't start anyway until after June, the end of June,” she said. β€œI feel like it’s good.”

Ambivalence about the change remains, which the school district said stems from misinformation about when school would start – before Labor Day, but not until the end of August.

Many of those against the proposal were worried about students being in classrooms during the hot month of August.

β€œWe do have an air conditioning plan for 2,000 of our hottest classrooms,” said Ursula Kroemer with the SDUSD. β€œAll of those classrooms will be completely updated this year, so they will be completely done by the 2016-2017 school year.”

An AP teacher from Mira Mesa High School told NBC 7 starting the school year earlier gives students more time to prepare for AP exams and keeps them competitive with other districts. He said students who need summer jobs often have to work during final exams.
 

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