The administration and board used some guiding questions to help determine potential changes:

1. Could we end the academic semester before Winter Break? This is especially important for our high school students, many of whom take dual credit or AP courses aligned with college semesters, and some seniors graduate mid-year and begin their college experience in January.
2. Could we add a Wednesday to Thanksgiving Break? We typically see low attendance this day. Other districts who have implemented this have found it helpful for both families and staff, particularly those who travel for the holiday.
3. Could we extend Fall Break to one week? We find that both students and staff are in need of a longer break in order to recharge and return for the second nine weeks. Families would have the opportunity to take a longer vacation.
4. Could we end the year before Memorial Day weekend, rather than returning for only a few days after a three day weekend?
5. How do we consider the above points but also meet the requirements of having 180 student days, balancing the number of days in each semester, and accommodating the necessary amount of time for standardized testing each spring?

In February of 2021, we asked parents and staff to weigh in on these questions via a survey sent to all district families and employees. Every family received the survey. The survey noted that if all of the changes above were implemented, it would mean starting school one week earlier.  Some changes were made for 21-22 and the remaining changes were made for 22-23.

• When asked about starting earlier to end the year before Memorial Day and the first semester before winter break: 62.51% of parents said yes, and 66% of staff said yes.
• When asked about making Fall Break one week: 64.17% of parents said yes, and 67% of staff said yes.
• When asked about adding Wednesday to Thanksgiving Break: 79.9% of parents said yes, and 90.5% of staff said yes.

Data from the survey was used to further guide the calendar outcome. Five different versions of the calendar were weighed before settling on the final version, which the board approved in March 2021.

The Lake County Fair will be underway when school begins in fall of 2022.

• Parking for the fair will still be available at CPHS after school on the days that school is in session and on the weekends.
• Students who need to attend 4H events that require their participation will be excused.
• We encourage our families to attend the fair during the seven days school is not in session and/or in the evenings of August 10, 11, and 12.
• There are six other Lake County districts who also start school while the fair is in session.

• Why is Fall Break now a week long?
  • Students and staff will have the opportunity to recharge before the second quarter. Our data over the past few years indicates that absenteeism of both staff and students increases in late October. Other districts who have implemented a week-long break have found that teachers and students return refreshed and ready to learn.
• Was the date of the Lake County Fair taken into account?
  • Yes.
  • Parking for the fair will still be available at CPHS after school on the days that school is in session and on the weekends. More information regarding fair parking can be found on the Lake County Fair's website.
  • Students who need to attend 4H events that require their participation will have an excused absence. They will need to provide documentation about which event(s) they need to attend.
  • We encourage our families to attend the fair during the seven days school is not in session and/or in the evenings of August 10, 11, and 12.
  • There are six other Lake County districts who also start school while the fair is in session.
• Are we starting early to improve standardized testing scores?
  • Absolutely not. While we have to be mindful that the number of days in both semesters are balanced - which does take into account the number of days required for testing - improving scores has nothing to do with the start date of school.
• Why didn’t the parent survey have space for parents to offer suggestions?
  • We appreciate feedback from parents and use it whenever we can. The survey was sent to more than 11,000 email addresses. Collecting hundreds of suggestions for a topic like this can result in too many options to be realistically considered.
• Is this because the administration wants to move to year-round school?
  • No. The reasons for the changes are those that were communicated last year when the calendar was determined. 1. Ending the first semester before the holiday break. 2. Including a week for Fall Break. 3.Ending the year before Memorial Day. 4. Meeting the requirement of 180 school days.