CHOOSING THE RIGHT CALENDAR FOR UPLAND STUDENTS

1. CHOOSING THE RIGHT CALENDAR FOR UPLAND STUDENTS Academic Year Calendar Proposal for the 2009-2010 School Year Town Hall Meetings March 19 and 24th

2. What is an Academic Year Calendar? • Start of school – Mid August • End of first semester prior to Winter Break • Spring Break falls at the end of 3rd Quarter • End of school – Before Memorial Day

3. CURRENT CALENDAR 2008-2009 Students start school Monday, August 25 School in session three days during Thanksgiving Week Winter Recess is two weeks Spring Break is one week School ends on Friday, June 5 (earlier than in past years) CHAFFEY EXAMPLE 2009-2010 • Students start school Monday, August 10 • Schools could have vacation during Thanksgiving Week • Winter Recess is two weeks • Spring Break is one week • School ends on Friday, May 28 (prior to Memorial Day)

4. TWO ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS • Which school year calendar best supports student learning and continuity of the instructional program? • Which school year calendar will be best supported by UUSD families and employees?

5. Why consider a change to an academic year calendar? • Continuity of the instructional program: • Finals will be scheduled before Winter Recess at the high school, maintaining instructional momentum and not wasting time with Jan. review • Provides extra weeks of instruction prior to annual CAHSEE testing in March • Provides additional instructional time to prepare for Advanced Placement (AP) exams • Avoids “down time” in June • Ending prior to Memorial Day allows more family time for graduates who report to college in August

6. Why consider a change to an academic year calendar? • Alignment of the UUSD calendar with neighboring districts allows families to schedule vacations without missing school or work. This is an advantage instructionally and fiscally. The following districts have adopted Academic Year Calendars that start in 2009-2010: • Chaffey Joint Union High School District • Alta Loma School District • Etiwanda School District • Central School District • Fontana Unified School District • Ontario Montclair School District • How will an earlier start impact other families that are NOT affected by these constraints – but may have other conflicts?

7. How many families could this affect? • There are currently 256 UUSD employees who reside in neighboring districts that are moving to an academic calendar. • There are more than 850 employees of these neighboring districts who reside within UUSD boundaries. • Total = 1,106+ households

8. What are the fiscal implications? While it’s impossible to predict with certainty, we do know that: • A drop in district-wide average daily attendance of just 1 percent would result in more than $650,000 in lost income – as well as missed learning opportunities. • Employee absences lead to increased expenses (i.e. substitute teachers) - and also a drop in productivity and supervision.

9. What concerns have been expressed about moving to an academic year? • Some families and employees traditionally schedule vacations during the last two weeks of August • It is too hot for students at that time of year, so • Utility bills will be too high, and • Student learning will be adversely affected • It will interfere with CIF league schedules • The first summer of implementation will be too short • The calendar has clear advantages for high school students, not as many for elementary/junior high • This will conflict with other youth summer activities (church, parks and recreation, youth leagues, etc.) • K students will be 3 weeks younger when school starts • Possible increase in absences due to families who won’t send students to school in August

10. CALENDAR IMPLICATIONS • Some families and employees traditionally take vacations during the last two weeks of August • Would have an adverse impact on attendance unless families shifted plans to other dates. Potential fiscal impact on families and employees with time shares. • It will interfere with CIF league schedules • Other schools in our league have already made the shift; no adverse impact is predicted. • The first summer of implementation will be too short • The first summer of implementation will be shorter than typical, somewhat abated by compacting the current 2008-09 calendar so that the last day is June 5.

11. CALENDAR IMPLICATIONS • The calendar has clear advantages for high school students, not as many for elementary/junior high • The academic year calendar initially benefits secondary more than elementary. However, one thing is certain. One-hundred percent of our students will derive the benefit of the academic year calendar during the crucial last four years of his/her academic career. • This will conflict with other youth summer activities (church, parks and recreation, youth leagues, etc.) • Dialog has already been initiated with the City and, with one year’s advance notice, there will be time to notify youth organizations, church groups, and child care agencies prior to implementation.

12. WEATHER IMPLICATIONS • The air quality is worse during the proposed calendar window: Facts from the AQMD: • Using a 3-year window of comparison, the differences between August 27-June 11 and August 10-May 28: • The current calendar actually had one MORE Health Advisory (150 ppb) for air quality when compared to the proposed earlier start calendar. • If you increase the standard for air quality up to (.95 ppb) the current calendar year was actually cleaner by 4 days. Kevin Durkee, Air Quality Specialist - South Coast AQMD

13. WEATHER IMPLICATIONS • It is too hot during the proposed calendar window (using 20 year summary data): • The average maximum temperature for June is 81.4degrees and August is 89.4 as recorded by the Western Regional Climate Center at Claremont College. • The average maximum temperature in June is 86 degrees (record high of 114 degrees), and August is 92 degrees (record high of 114) as recorded by Ontario International Airport meteorological climate summary. Kevin Durkee, Air Quality Specialist - South Coast AQMD

14. WEATHER IMPLICATIONS • Utility bills will be too high • Again, a tough one to predict. HVAC systems typically run at reduced levels during both June and August as schools are readied for closing and opening. However, the Business Department predicts an increase of at least $70,000 in utility costs if the proposed calendar is enacted. • Safety and Wellness Standards • It will be necessary to actively communicate and enforce air quality and temperature activity restrictions with either calendar. The fact that our classrooms and buildings are air conditioned could actually provide a healthier environment than some students would experience at home or in the community.

15. “Getting the Word Out”March & April • Town Hall Meetings scheduled: • Pioneer JHS Wednesday, March 19 7 p.m. • Upland JHS Monday, March 24 7 p.m. • District web site: www.upland.k12.ca.us • Press Releases/In Touch publications • Ongoing meetings with Upland Council PTA and Employee Associations • Letters to youth and civic groups • Board of Education Meetings

16. MOVING TO A DECISION It is staff’s intention to bring a recommendation to the Board of Education prior to the end of the current school year in order to adopt a calendar for the 2009-2010 school year. This will provide families, youth organizations, churches, employees, and child care agencies with one year’s notice to plan and adjust to any change in the school year calendar.

17. OTHER IMPLICATIONS? • Opportunities • Challenges • Questions