I like this proposed year round multi track calendar. It seems reasonable. I hope it gets approved.

It would be nice to see quarter ending dates on this calendar like you have on the others. Also would be nice to have a separate consolidated calendar like you used to post so those with kids on different calendars can easily see how they match up.

I'm a little concerned about the summer slide that we will now encounter for the first time. June 12 to August 3 is a long time off for those of us who are used to the year-round calendar. I am glad that you can add 15 minutes to each day instead of Saturday school though.

I’m very happy with the proposed year round schedule, based on all points that need to be considered. The changes are very reasonable and shouldn’t be too hard to adapt to. I also agree with the addition of 15 minutes to the school day rather than adding Saturdays.

We are track three which historically tracks out the last week of July, first week of August. With the new proposed schedule, track three begins when they would typically be tracked out. We have an annual vacation planned for that week and are concerned that we may not be able to receive a refund. Has there been thought to let track three begin when they normally would? Thank you.

I know this was a major puzzle to piece together and I appreciate how hard it is, but I agree with the Track 3 problem - the first two weeks of school are now placed where track out would have been. Because those first couple of weeks of August are generally all we get of summer, we are committed to a beach trip that our family holds sacred. PLEASE swap with the following two weeks where the kids are, inexplicably, tracked out again... happy to do more remote learning time to make that work.

I am concerned about the deficit of hours compared to the traditional calendar. Even with the added 15 minutes per day, my calculations show our children will be getting about 5 fewer days of learning than traditional calendar students. I think the total hours need to be equitable between all calendars. This schedule barely meets the state minimum hours and is roughly 30 hours less than the traditional calendar. Any closure more than 2 or 3 days (hurricane, snow/ice, or virus) will require more than a shortened Saturday to stay above the minimum.

I would like to see 5 additional days added to the calendar. Three could be added to the end of the year (June 30-July 2 to complete that week) and 2 from holidays (choose 2 from Veterans Day, MLK, or April 2 for instance depending on track) and maybe a Saturday to balance out the schedule.

If the intent of the state law allowing schools to start 1 week earlier is to provide for more class time in the next academic year, we should be getting more time and not less as the proposed calendar offers.

Aside from a delayed schedule, what are social distancing measures that will be put in place when in person school returns? I didn't see where that information could be found. Thank you

Two comments for the board:

1. One thing we have been acutely aware of while doing remote learning is that our children need much more physical activity than a normal school day allows for. I urge the board and all the schools to consider using those extra 15 minutes for more play time. I think this is important for their physical and mental health. The whole COVID response right now is about physical health and that sentiment needs to carry forward into other aspects of our school planning.

2. It would be better to decide something sooner than later. Like others here, we are on track 3, the proposed start date would normally be our first week out. Just days before this meeting, we put travel plans in place for what would have been our trackout. Slow decision making and lack of communication has been frustrating, more so that the need to change things. I think we all get that there will be change and are understanding.

I understand the need for 15 minutes added to each day in order to comply with mandated hours in school. However, as a teacher at a school that already ends at 3:50pm (meaning students aren't cleared out until approximately 4:30pm), I am hoping that these 15 minutes will be applied to the starting time of schools. This will be a transportation problem because most elementary schools are the 3rd round of routes for bus drivers. Seeing as most elementary aged students have lost their focus and stamina far before 3pm, the idea of staying at school even later would be counter-productive. In addition, I would like to assert my agreement with the post about 15 minutes of physical/social emotional activity as opposed to academics. Please let this crisis we have been in guide decisions as to what 5-10 year olds really need.

I totally agree, the 15 minutes should be added to the start of the day, NOT at the end of the day.

We disagree with the delayed school start. Further, the 15min should be added to the start, not end of the day. My son (track 1) arrives home on the bus 4:30-4:45PM each day, which is already too late. Finally, we would like to understand the rationale for Remote Learning days added at the end of the quarter/beginning of track-out. So our kids would complete their exams & such at the end of the quarter, then have two days of Remote Learning at home, then start track-out? How are these days 'graded', or for attendance? Can the assignments be completed at any time during track-out?

I really like the amended calendar. I feel that the changes are good and have been done in the best way with a delayed start. I don't think it will matter when the 15 added minutes are added as the kids will be tired at the end of the day no matter when it starts.

I realize the difficulty of rearranging the track out calendar. However, these changes create difficulty for my family. Previously, track 2 was a perfect schedule for us. Now, in order to take any family trips, we would have to miss multiple school days due to mine and my husband’s work schedules. Will there be an option to switch tracks? If not, will this be the new permanent schedule or will we be going back to the original track out schedule the following school year?

I also really like the calendar suggested. The changes can work with having a delayed start and 15 minutes added to the calendar. I did see the comments how the 15 minutes might be added and seems to be the best for all grades from high school to preK. Having a plan done sooner than later could help people make arrangements for the changes.

I'd like to voice my support of this calendar as proposed. This was a nearly impossible task of balancing the new requirements with the safety of our kids and educators. While there seems to be a number of people who believe we should start back on time in July for various reasons, I for one strongly believe starting even a few weeks later is better for everyone involved.

We are a track 3 family and I'm echoing the concerns previously shared by other families. This proposed calendar change is puzzling. Track 3 is in session when we're normally out and out when we're normally in. Given that the infection rate continues to hover at 7% and parents need to work to provide for their families, I'd like to know why the board feels they can completely upend people's lives and rearrange an entire school schedule? We will move forward with our summer plans, so I hope the schools are willing to excuse a lot of absences. I'm not canceling our vacation because the school board decided to rewrite the entire calendar in May. What public health restrictions are going to be in place in July that will prevent school from opening on the 10th as previously planned? If kids can go to the pool, eat inside a restaurant, attend church, fly on a plane and go to camp, then there's no reason to push back the start of the new school year until August. Furthermore, adding 15 minutes to the school day is a ridiculous proposal to meet the new legislative mandate. This adds a huge burden to our already overworked and underpaid staff. Are they going to be compensated for the additional hours and days they are now expected to work? What about their teacher work days? As others have already mentioned, if 15 minutes are added to the schedule each day, the kids won't get home at a reasonable hour. Already it takes the bus over an hour to complete their route and most elementary schools are the third run for that driver. Please, please think about how your decisions impact the social, emotional and economic needs of teachers, staff and families. This is not a reasonable proposal. Please stick with the original multi-track schedule that was in place.

I am a track 3 parent. It is perplexing that our start date is while we are normally out. I cannot say until we know safety precautions if we will be comfortable starting earlier. My main concern is the current law basing school funding on the first 10 days in seats. I’m hearing a lot of families aren’t going to change their vacation plans and I am very concerned if the board doesn’t wave that first 10 day funding indicator it will be a huge determinate To our schools. I also wonder if this will apply to traditional as well. If parents don’t feel safe they won’t send their kids until they do feel it is safe. The 10 day rule should be suspended for the 2020-2021 school year until Covid is controlled

YR track 3 mom here. Ehike most if is are thrilled to have a later start day in August due to the situation, most of the parents from our entire track 3 are not thrilled with the start day for us as we were scheduled to be tracked out during the 2 weeks we now start. I personally am not able to get out of these obligations nor do I want to take this from my kids as we missed out on our entire bucket list trip in April. These plans were made last year. It is my opinion some of the rules need to be amended for the next school year such as the number of hours required in a school year. Let me explain. The extended 15 minutes while may not mean a lot to some, is a great burden for others. It creates problems for track out camps and after school care. As does the remote learning days. If the rules could be changed for session law days and remote learning days, why not just excuse the 1035 hours and make next school year an exception. For me, I work at a very prominent hospital with Covid patients. My family has been on strict quarantine for almost 4 months. My husband and I work opposite shifts so we don't have to worry with afterschool care or track out camps. That said, extending the school day 15 minutes are the 15 MINUTES I see my kids during the week. So those 15 minutes are a HUGE deal to me. While everyone has been home I have had to be homeschool teacher during the day and hospital employee in the evening. We have not had a vacation since last summer so I am not willing to take away their planned (for over a year vacation) in August because the start date was pushed in the middle of our normal track out. My family needs this break.

Secondly, how isn't possible to clean the school and keep them clean throughout the day? I have a child in a high risk group. As it is now cleaning lunch tables with water is appealing to me and already if concern and now we have Covid? And social distancing seems impossible I the classroom setting and at recess? What if a second wave hits as predicted in the fall? Are rules going to be bent then or if God forbid a student or their family member become stricken with the virus and have to quarantine for 14 days? What about those absences?

My point is there is going to be a need for GREAT flexibility this coming school year so to not be flexible is of great concern for parents.

Please reconsider the start date for track 3. Do not penalize us for things planned over a year in advance. Also please reconsider extending the 15 minute school days. Our children and families and parents who ate essential employees have been through so much and need this time off.

Track 3 family - we are fine with the proposed calendar dates. We'll have to adjust our vacation plans as well, but I’m sure a lot of people are in the same boat regardless of which track they’re on.

We prefer adding 15 minutes to the school day vs Saturday school or taking away track out days. As our daughter is in middle school we prefer adding time to end of day since she starts earlier, but I get why elementary parents prefer beginning since they start later. Could you add 15 mins to the end of the day for middle & high school students and add 15 minutes to the beginning of the day for elementary school?

Thanks for taking in all the feedback and trying to accommodate everyone as best as possible!

Track 3 family - I'm not sure what the 20-21 school year will look like, but I'm assuming it will be some balance between remote and in-class learning. For that reason, I'm relieved to have the school start date pushed back to August to give more time to figure that out. But, like others suggested, we would prefer to retain the first 2 weeks of August as a Track 3 break.

Thanks for everything you are doing to plan and accommodate everyone!

WCPSS has been very diligent in communicating the steps and time lines of publishing the newly updated calendars. Unfortunately I have not seen any mention of the same focus and attention being made towards the plan for the process of the kids physically being in the school amid this Covid environment. Do you all plan to share your thoughts on this anytime soon?

I have yet to see any discussion on how we will be keeping our children or teachers safe. I see nothing about social distancing, nothing about wearing masks, nothing regarding the enormous amount of exposure we will be putting our children, our families, neighbors, bus drivers and janitors at risk. COVID-19 does infect children. I see nothing about how the schools will be cleaned daily. There are approximately 900 students in Pine Hollow Middle school, of which several elementary schools feed. We will be exposing our children to a much larger population and thus increasing the risk to every single family and employee of that school. Never mind those families that also have children in an elementary school or a high school. Wake County School System must begin a backup plan to allow for remote learning for those students who cannot attend school. Some children are already high risk, some parents are high risk, and sending their children to school will only increase their chance of a horrid outcome to this virus. Stop counting hours and spend time focusing on how to prepare teachers for remote learning. Real remote learning. You need to train the teachers, don't leave them to blindly navigate waters they were never asked to do prior. You have time to prepare now, so please do so. You must prepare for the onslaught of parents that refuse to put their children lives in danger.

What about putting them with traditional calendar? Also, how are the class sizes going to be handled and will parents have the option to home school e-learn to start, especially since that is also the start of flu season?

Sorry, I meant to add to the above that I’ll have an 8th grader on Track 3. And her brothers are in high school on traditional. I’m high risk and am concerned about the distancing , safety precautions, adequate learning time etc as mentioned above. To be honest, if a child in the school gets COVID-19 (which I pray doesn’t happen) we would immediately take our kids out. Would the school notify parents in that event?