After identifying improvements and taking community feedback into account, the Chagrin Falls Board of Education last week approved the 2023-24 school-district calendar – but with one change from what was originally proposed.
The calendar identified a change in the grades 7-12 records day, which means that the first semester for students in those grades would end prior to the start of winter break. The change was in response to feedback from the community, School Superintendent Jennifer Penczarski said. “The feedback we received requested the first semester end prior to the start of winter break. We were able to make that change.”
Had that change not been made, students would have returned to school following winter break and then headed into exams the following week.
“I think it’s very cathartic for our 7-12 students to have a two-week break where the first semester has ended and they have nothing hanging over their heads and come back to school fresh,” board President Sharon Broz had said in voicing her initial concerns.
The change resulted in a “fantastic outcome,” Ms. Broz said. “We honored the process, and we identified improvements to make in it moving forward, incorporating feedback from parents, students and staff.”
The grades 7-12 records day was scheduled for Jan. 19, 2024 but, with the change, was moved to Dec. 22, 2023.
The Aug. 24 start date for school next fall is later than last school year, which began on Aug. 18.
The district follows a process for setting the calendar that is laid out in the union contract. With this process, the district comes up with two calendars, the unions come up with one, and all three go to a vote of the staff. The vote on the calendar that won was 48.2%, when, historically, one calendar wins by 60%.
“We would collaboratively refine any changes in the process with the union,” Dr. Penczarski said.
“The district calendar committee believes this is the best calendar to meet the needs of our students next year,” Dr. Penczarski said. “The one change made for students in grades 7-12 addressed the concerns we heard from all members of our school community. This version of the calendar will serve the educational needs of students in all grades.”
Ms. Broz added that the feedback received on the proposed calendar was consistent. “What people cared most about was that our students benefit from going into winter break with the first semester behind them,” she said. “Our goal is to build a strong district calendar that supports all students, K-12.”
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