Pittsboro, NC – At the May 8 Chatham County School Board meeting Dr. Amanda Moran Assistant Superintendent for Academic Services & Instructional Support is scheduled to provide school board members with an update on the year-round school study.
During the 2022-2023 school year Chatham County Schools has conducted a feasibility study to look at year-round schooling options for the Siler City feeder pattern. This schooling model was a strategy in our previous district strategic plan, Flight Plan 2020. The study was a request of the principals in the Siler City feeder pattern schools years ago. This study was halted due to COVID-19. In addition, during the new strategic plan listening sessions and surveys, year-round schooling options came up in multiple sessions for the district to consider. This study is examining the feasibility of year-round schools starting in 2024-2025 school year. No decisions have been made and nothing would change regarding the calendar for 2023-2024. During this time the district has worked with RTI International to assist with the study. The purpose of this presentation is to share an update on the work conducted thus far on this project, review the data from the feedback surveys, and share next steps.
Here’s a rundown based on materials released by Chatham County Schools.
Review of the Survey Feedback
STAFF QUESTIONNAIRE RESULTS
158 total respondents
(49) 31%: SILER CITY ELEMENTARY
(60) 37.9%: VIRGINIA CROSS ELEMENTARY
(16) 10.1%: CHATHAM MIDDLE SCHOOL
(33) 20.8%: JORDAN MATTHEWS HIGH
Overall In Favor- 116 73.4%
Overall Not In Favor- 42 26.58%
Stay at Current School- 119 75.4%
Request Transfer- 39 24.6%
Work During Intersessions- 27.2%
Not Work During Intersessions- 34.8%
Possibly Work During Intersessions- 38%
FAMILY QUESTIONNAIRE RESULTS
552 total respondents
(169) 30.6%: SILER CITY ELEMENTARY
(228) 41.3%: VIRGINIA CROSS ELEMENTARY
(92) 16.6%: CHATHAM MIDDLE SCHOOL
(63) 11.4%: JORDAN MATTHEWS HIGH
Overall In Favor- 288 52.2%
Overall Not In Favor- 264 47.8%
Would Stay- 66.2%
Would Transfer- 33.8%
Need Childcare- 41.3%
Do Not Need Childcare- 58.7%
Benefits
Reduce Summer Learning Loss
Time for staff to give individual attention
Breaks for staff
Time for families to travel more often
Breaks for students
Ability to focus on student needs
Schedule aligned with work or college
Families ability to continue to work
Instructional time more evenly distributed
Most staff wanted to remain in current school
Barriers
Students not being on the same schedule within a family
Childcare
Sports schedules
Staffing for childcare and tutorials
Potentially not enough space for opting out families
Family work schedules
Just hard to understand and change
Staff with children of different schedules
Recommendation
The feasibility study reflects that Siler City stakeholders at this time are not prepared to support further research into a year-round school calendar.
As the district anticipates future growth, we recommend the School Board consider further study of innovative school models to include year-round calendar, magnet, or choice schools for staff and families.