Broward school year starting earlier, in midweek

Sorry, kids. If you attend Broward County public schools, summer vacation will end early.

The School Board on Tuesday approved its calendar for the 2018-19 school year, which will start Wednesday, Aug. 15 — six days earlier than last year. It’s also the first midweek start in recent years.

The start of the school year has been a contentious issue. District officials say an earlier start is better for academic purposes. But a number of parents say later starts help avoid conflicts with out-of-state camps, family trips and academic summer programs. Under the new calendar: Thanksgiving break runs from Wednesday, Nov. 21 through Friday, Nov. 23;

Winter break will start Monday, Dec. 24, 2018 and end on Friday, Jan. 4, 2019; Spring break is March 25-29; Schools will be closed on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 6;

There are 10 teacher planning days and six early release days;

Holidays include Labor Day, Veteran’s Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, President’s Day, Memorial Day and two Jewish holidays;

School will end Tuesday, June 4, 2019.

The calendar also has contingencies for up to five hurricane makeup days, if needed.

The new calendar allows the two semesters at the secondary-school level to have nearly the same number of days. District officials say it also will ensure that students can complete final semester exams before the winter holiday.

And they say that starting on Wednesday offers real benefits.

“A midweek start will allow days for teachers and students to settle and organize … and have a fresh start on the following Monday,” district officials wrote.

Not everyone agrees with that.

“This is ridiculous. You don’t need to start on a Wednesday to settle in,” Parkland parent Rosemarie Jensen said.

Jocelyn Gingras Wills, a science teacher at Pioneer Middle in Cooper City, said it only takes one day to go over classroom procedures. She starts full instruction on the second day of school.

“Parents will just keep kids out until the Monday anyway,” she said. “Even on a Monday start, there are still students who don’t show up for a couple of days. This will make it worse.”

Miriam Sandbrand, a teacher at Maplewood Elementary in Coral Springs, wishes the school year started later.

“Families want to enjoy a full summer break. Teachers would like to as well,” she said. “With the extreme Florida summer heat, it’s difficult for all to focus on academics.”

School Board members Laurie Rich Levinson and Nora Rupert opposed the new calendar, with Levinson saying she’s heard complaints from parents.

“I don’t believe in going farther into the summer,” Levinson said.

Coral Springs parent Jamie Morrissett Walsh said she is fine with starting earlier, “but they should have the whole week off for Thanksgiving and get out earlier before Christmas.”

The calendar has contingencies for up to five hurricane makeup days, if needed. It can be viewed at browardschools.com/calendars.