Should Stratford Schools Scrap February Break?

Two major weather events this school year have resulted in the cancellation of April vacation and the postponement of the last day of school to June 26.

As Stratford was digging out of a February blizzard, one parent proposed moving or shortening winter break, scheduled for the week after the blizzard hit.

"I appreciate everyone's input but the problem is multi-layered," Gavin Forrester wrote in the comment section of the article linked above.

"When the Board set the schedule for this school year we made it clear that if we exceeded the number of inclement weather days we would reduce the April vacation days," he said.

Now the Board of Education is in the process of setting the schedule for next year, and it wants input from parents.

A survey posted on the school board's website presents these six questions to Stratford parents about the schedule for school year 2013-14:

In Stratford, students have traditionally returned to school on the Wednesday before Labor Day. Do you support starting the school year two days earlier, that is, on the Monday before Labor Day?

Options: Yes; No; I have no preference.

Do you support having schools open on Rosh Hashanah (usually occurs in mid-September)?

Options: Yes; No; I have no preference.

Do you support having schools open on Columbus Day (early October)?

Options: Yes; No; I have no preference.

Do you support having schools open on Veterans' Day (mid-November)?

Options: Yes; No; I have no preference.

Our February vacation in Stratford traditionally occurs during the same week as Presidents' Day. If we were to change the way February vacation is handled, which option do you support MOST?

(1) Make the Friday before Presidents' Day a vacation day (to create a 4-day weekend); then attend school Tuesday - Friday (the days after Presidents' Day).

(2) Make the Tuesday after Presidents' Day a vacation day (to create a 4-day weekend); then attend school Wednesday - Friday (the days after Presidents' Day).

(3) Keep February vacation as is.

(4) Eliminate February vacation entirely.

(5) I have no preference.

Oftentimes we need to add days to the end of the school year, due to lost days during the year. Which option do you support MOST regarding the number of days we would add to the end of the year?

(1) Add up to 4 days to the end of the school year BEFORE taking away vacation days.

(2) Add up to 5 days to the end of the school year BEFORE taking away vacation days.

(3) Routinely add days onto the end of the school year up to and including the third week of June BEFORE taking away vacation days.

(4) Routinely add days onto the end of the school year up through June 30th BEFORE taking away vacation days.

(5) I have no preference.

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CLICK HERE to take the survey. And share your thoughts on the questions below.