Ypsilanti Community Schools officials continue to develop plans for year round schools. The District plans on piloting a balanced calendar in one or two buildings starting in the fall.
According to Superintendent Scott Menzel a variety of schedules are being considered, including possibly 45 days on and 15 days off of school throughout the year. He says year-round school is designed to eliminate the long lay-off that causes students from lower economic backgrounds to lose ground. Menzel thinks there are also benefits for all students to go with a balanced calendar. He says this includes lower costs for vacations.
A general outline for the plan is expected by the end of next month with a final recommendation ready for the school board to consider in late April. Menzel notes there are many families that will be concerned about the change and that's why most of the district's buildings won't go to a new calendar in the fall.
— Andrew Cluley is the Ann Arbor beat reporter, and anchor for 89.1 WEMU News. Contact him at 734.487.3363 or email him acluley@emich.edu.
