Albemarle County school leaders are considering bumping up the first day of class by two weeks beginning as early as the 2012-2013 school year.
The school board is far from a decision on the matter, though members were receptive to a panel of more than a dozen stakeholders who contended shifting the school year forward a couple of weeks would benefit students.
“I think the arguments are very powerful,” said school board member Eric Strucko, who participated in the panel discussion Thursday alongside member Jason Buyaki.
County high school seniors on the panel contended students would be better suited to taking exams prior to winter break, instead of afterward — which was the case this school year.
Starting school two weeks earlier would allow that.
Under the current system, many students took Standards of Learning and course exams after winter break. As a result, some students returned to school under-prepared, while others spent much of their break stressed out and studying, instead of relaxing, according to the seniors and other panelists.
Moving the school year ahead by two weeks might also mean the last day of school would jump ahead by two weeks, though school board members did not rule out the idea of making the school year longer.
Assistant Superintendent Bruce Benson said school leaders have been thinking about the 2012/13 calendar well in advance to get input from the community and to discuss and evaluate the options.
Some panelists noted that the school board should give more than a year’s advance before making any major changes, an idea that was well-received by board members.
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