Sacramento school district faces parent frustration over calendar proposal

The Sacramento City Unified School District is proposing changes to the academic calendar for the upcoming school year, aiming to start the school year in mid-August and conclude summer break in late May.The district said the change would help to better align with other districts and enhance the experience for middle and high school students.On Tuesday night, the district held its final in-person meeting to gather feedback, but only two parents were in attendance. “It is frustrating for me as a parent. I have two small children in elementary grades, and the frustration for me comes that the district’s communication was so incredibly poor,” said one parent who did not want to be identified.The district first reached out to parents about the proposed calendar changes in September and held five in-person meetings at area high schools, as well as a survey, in hopes of getting feedback from parents. Read our previous coverage here.A parent who attended Tuesday’s meeting, but did not want to be identified, shared a possible explanation for the low turnout. “I think it’s parents acknowledging that they don’t feel heard, no matter what they do. You know, forcing parents to come. And mind you, none of these listening sessions happened at any primary schools. These only happened in high schools. So it really drove home the point that they don’t care about anyone else,” the parent said.The district says the updated academic calendar could benefit students in 7th through 12th grades by allowing finals before winter break, giving more time to prepare for AP and IB testing, opening opportunities for summer classes and jobs, and better aligning with the CIF calendar for fall athletes. “The kids have, you know, swimming, camping, family trips, and, a lot of times, they have summer jobs and also the teachers have to take classes during the summer, and they might have jobs in the summer,” said Roxanne Fuentes, a grandmother who showed up to the meeting.Fuentes also opposes the calendar change. She attempted to speak out during public comment, but showed up minutes after Tuesday’s meeting concluded. “I think it’s a bad idea. I don’t think the kids like it, and definitely the parents. My daughter hates the idea,” said Fuentes.The district told KCRA that attendance at the in-person meetings was low, but encouraged parents to share additional feedback with the Board of Education before November 14. Parents have until this Friday to submit their thoughts on the survey. To fill out the survey, click here.It’s still unclear when the district will decide to move forward with the changes.See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel

SACRAMENTO, Calif. —

The Sacramento City Unified School District is proposing changes to the academic calendar for the upcoming school year, aiming to start the school year in mid-August and conclude summer break in late May.

The district said the change would help to better align with other districts and enhance the experience for middle and high school students.

On Tuesday night, the district held its final in-person meeting to gather feedback, but only two parents were in attendance.

“It is frustrating for me as a parent. I have two small children in elementary grades, and the frustration for me comes that the district’s communication was so incredibly poor,” said one parent who did not want to be identified.

The district first reached out to parents about the proposed calendar changes in September and held five in-person meetings at area high schools, as well as a survey, in hopes of getting feedback from parents. Read our previous coverage here.

A parent who attended Tuesday’s meeting, but did not want to be identified, shared a possible explanation for the low turnout.

“I think it’s parents acknowledging that they don’t feel heard, no matter what they do. You know, forcing parents to come. And mind you, none of these listening sessions happened at any primary schools. These only happened in high schools. So it really drove home the point that they don’t care about anyone else,” the parent said.

The district says the updated academic calendar could benefit students in 7th through 12th grades by allowing finals before winter break, giving more time to prepare for AP and IB testing, opening opportunities for summer classes and jobs, and better aligning with the CIF calendar for fall athletes.

“The kids have, you know, swimming, camping, family trips, and, a lot of times, they have summer jobs and also the teachers have to take classes during the summer, and they might have jobs in the summer,” said Roxanne Fuentes, a grandmother who showed up to the meeting.

Fuentes also opposes the calendar change. She attempted to speak out during public comment, but showed up minutes after Tuesday’s meeting concluded.

“I think it’s a bad idea. I don’t think the kids like it, and definitely the parents. My daughter hates the idea,” said Fuentes.

The district told KCRA that attendance at the in-person meetings was low, but encouraged parents to share additional feedback with the Board of Education before November 14.

Parents have until this Friday to submit their thoughts on the survey. To fill out the survey, click here.

It’s still unclear when the district will decide to move forward with the changes.

See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel