Year-Round School Debate Rages On
Tuesday, Nov 27, 2007 - 05:00 AM Updated: 05:02 PM
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WAKE COUNTY, N.C.-- Maybe you are one of the thousands of Wake County families adjusting to new year-round schedules.
Who better to tell us how the schedule change is working than families in the middle of this schedule switch?
We’re following both sides of the story thanks to two families.
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Clay and Chandler Boneham of Raleigh recently had their fall break. Their mother Lisa is against mandating year-round conversions.
“I have to remember this is their summer vacation, so in the back of my mind, I know we can't waste this time because they'll be in school when their siblings are out," said Lisa Boneham.
While the youngest two are on vacation for three weeks, their older siblings are in school on a traditional schedule.
"I miss my brother and sister," said Chandler.
The Bonehams didn't want the year-round schedule because it split their family time, but they opted to stay with the school they know and love, Leesville Elementary.
But over the second track out Boneham did not anticipate the cost of entertaining half the family.
"Frankies, Adventure Landing, lunch out, things we don't normally do,” she said. “In the summer we don't spend a lot of money because we spend time at the pool."
On the flipside, there's the Jennings family.Sheryl Jennings has no complaints about the year-round system.
"I think it's great. The kids don't get so burned out with school," she said. "They actually get some break time in there."
Jennings wanted year-round school because she and her husband both work
full-time.
She has made accommodations for the new schedule. They had to delay a family vacation to New York.
“It didn't seem to faze [the children] in the least," she said. "They were more excited about starting school."
Tyler Jennings, 8, and his two younger sisters go to Rand Road Elementary in Garner.
Tyler says he loves school, he loves track out, but given the choice, "I just want the whole summer back off instead of three weeks."
Tyler says he loves school, he loves track out, but given the choice, "I just want the whole summer back off instead of three weeks."
But Mom said "too bad" because she thinks year-round education is a good thing.
"I think they need to be more engaged in school," she said. "If that means year round and not loosing so much of what they learned the year before, I'm all for that!"
So with two track outs under their belt, have their feelings changed?
Jennings: "I'm happy, but I know not everyone is happy. Traditional schools are more crowded now than they were before."
On the other hand Boneham said, "I would love to see our school converted back to traditional."
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