Most adults recall school beginning in September and ending in June. The summers were filled with family vacations, swimming in a friend’s pool or just enjoying the extended days of sunlight. But the transition from the “old school” academic year to one that includes breaks throughout the year, and shorter summer vacations if any at all, is popping up in a number of different states. And each, so it seems, has its own set of benefits and drawbacks.
Cutting Down on Summers, Costs According to Dr. Charles Ballinger, executive director emeritus for the National Association for
Year-Round Education, there are two types of year-round school years — single-track and multi- track. With single-track, all students follow the same schedule, which includes shorter summers and longer holiday breaks to compensate. Multi-track, on the other hand, is similar to a multi- tiered school bus schedule — students start and end the sessions at different points, which, in turn, helps cut operational costs, including transportation. “While buses are required all year for students in multi-track, experience has demonstrated that
not as many buses are required to be purchased to transport students, since one-fifth to one-third of the students are not in school for the period of their vacation time. So, on a per person basis, districts have found that transportation costs are a wash: Operational costs up; outlay/purchase expenditures down,” explained Dr. Ballinger. Tere are some who still argue the issue, pointing to increased operational costs without seeing
the bigger picture. But if a district is offering both year-round and traditional schools for parents to choose from, should the year-round schools be charged with any additional costs? For Dr. Ballinger, the answer is no, but that does not mean the system will feel the flack for any problems that arise. “In the real world, the new system usually takes the blame and is charged with any and all prob-
lems. Tat is why reform in education, so often called for, has not happened in large measure,” added Dr. Ballinger.
Both Are Not Without Their Challenges Whether running school buses throughout the year or on a more traditional schedule, operators
will be met with challenges. For Don West, the terminal manager for Rockford (Ill.) Public Schools 205, the biggest issue he faces is getting the routes to coordinate with each other so his staff can fit them in with their own tiered schedule. Tis includes the buses that run during summer school and all other activities that operate all year long. “We have not had a day this summer without some type of program running,“ said West. “Te
day before our summer school program ends our year-round school starts.” Te traditional schedule, which calls for a summer skeleton crew for most transportation depart-
ments, may save on labor and fuel costs. But two months is a short period to perform any major maintenance or vehicle upgrades. Jack S. Marchetti, transportation specialist for Child Start, Inc., in Napa, Calif., stays on to supervise the maintenance and servicing of the entire fleet, and he also actually cleans the buses.
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