Editorial: Family juggling act

Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2007 | 7:11 a.m.

The Clark County School District has assembled a group to study its policies for determining whether schools should operate on a traditional nine-month schedule or should be open year-round.

A story by the Las Vegas Sun on Tuesday notes that the group - made up of parents and representatives from the business community, the School Board and the School District - will spend six weeks analyzing the issue and then submit a report to Superintendent Walt Rulffes.

In addition to reviewing the economics of using schools year-round, the group will examine how student test scores and attendance records compare between schools operating year-round and those with traditional nine-month schedules.

The findings will be considered when the School Board considers revising the district's policies governing school schedules.

School District officials also will rely on the report's data as they seek to raise money next year to build schools. District officials are expected to ask voters for $10 billion to $15 billion for new construction. The final amount will depend on how many schools are to be built - a figure that depends heavily on how many of the schools will operate year-round, the Sun's Emily Richmond reports.

About 40 percent of the School District's elementary schools operate year-round, while all secondary schools are on the traditional schedule. This can be challenging for parents who have to juggle the schedules of their children in year-round elementary schools with the schedules of siblings who attend nine-month middle or high schools.

Still, some parents say year-round schools help their children retain information better and offer families more options for scheduling vacations and other activities.

This is an emotional issue and one on which it is difficult to reach a consensus. Nonetheless, the School District is taking the right step by seeking input from a variety of community members and examining not only how year-round schools affect costs but also analyzing what type of learning environment they provide for our children.