PEORIA, Ill. – A vote will be Monday night on something the Peoria Public Schools Superintendent says has been worked on a lot since a vote on a changed calendar by the school board failed a few years ago.
“I think it’s a well-thought-out plan,” said Dr. Sharon Desmoulin-Kherat, talking to us on January 24, “that we have been working on for about six years. There have been a lot of individuals have been involved, over 90 individuals have been involved, a variety of stakeholders.”
Desmoulin-Kherat talked to WMBD News two weeks ago, before the PPS Board tabled a vote on the modified school calendar — which reduces the summer break, but extends fall and spring breaks, unless students need extra help.
“I have been monitoring this since 2014,” said Kherat. “I’ve spoken to about ten districts, and everyone says the two primary things: the balance, the breaks, the frequent breaks for the students and staff, and then the discipline, student behavior improves.”
Some students and parents oppose the change, saying, at least in part, it would be a burden on traditional schedules surrounding summer learning and extra-circular activities in many of Peoria’s communities.
The Peoria Federation of Teachers says most teachers are against the modified calendar, though some schools want it, while others don’t.
The PPS Board meets at 5:00 p.m. Monday.
