Parents react to proposed DSUSD plan for earlier start to school year
Update 02/04/2020:
The DSUSD Board of Education tabled the matter for further review. Mary Perry, public information officer for the district, said the board will be looking at comments provided by respondents on their website regarding the calendar proposal.
The board will discuss the matter at the next meeting on February 18.
Original Story - 02/03/2020
School buses in the Desert Sands Unified School District could be starting their engines earlier this coming August.
District officials say the new date would be August 13th if the plan is approved by the school board, which will hear the proposal for the first time during their public meeting Tuesday night, February 4th.
"As a former high school principal, I know this is what is best for our students," said Assistant Superintendent Donna Salazar.
Salazar says it's a plan supported by district administrators, the teacher's union and the District Advisory Committee made up of parent representatives.
The reasons the district gives for the change are to "increase academic achievement" of students and to "increase social-emotional support" for students.
The district also says there is "widespread" support from secondary teachers and administrators, including La Quinta High School Principal Dr. Rudy Wilson.
"High school as you know can sometimes be stressful in general so anything we can do to reduce that stress is something we should certainly consider," said Wilson.
District officials say the earlier start date would primarily benefit high school students, who would then be able to finish their first semester studies before taking their two-week winter break.
The district says completing tests and coursework prior to the break will improve scores, especially important for high school students whose grades become a part of their permanent record.
One parent we spoke with generally supports the idea, but expects her children to miss the first few days of class in the fall if the schedule change is approved because of reservations for summer vacation already in place.
"Our family already has plans for the summer, so it would have been nice to have more notice," said Jennifer Finnell.
A parent of three students, with one in high school opposes, citing concerns about hot August weather
"I don't agree with it. It's too hot for the little ones. They get overheated and it's just too much," said Melissa Jahries.
Responding to heat concerns, the district points to their data which shows over the past five years, average daytime high temperatures for the second week of August are 1.1 degrees higher when compared to the third week.
If the schedule change is ultimately approved, the school year would end earlier.
The final day would be May 28th.
Tuesday night's board meeting for the Desert Sands Unified School District is set for 7:00 at the district office in La Quinta.
Parents are invited to provide their input.
Click here if you would like to provide feedback on the DSUSD proposal.
