Coronavirus response | Families of balanced-calendar students weigh options for unusual year – Champaign/Urbana News-Gazette

CHAMPAIGN When Brendan and Amy Ellis son, Victor, began attending Kenwood Elementary School six years ago, they didnt know how much theyd enjoy its balanced- calendar schedule, which includes a shortened summer and three-week breaks in the fall and spring.

That quickly changed.

Were like, Hey, we get three weeks in October to do whatever we want, so we can go to Disney World or whatever when its a lot cheaper, and in March, we can do whatever we want, said Brendan, whose daughter, Molly, is now also a student there. But then, even cooler, June comes around, and were like, Hes back to school in six weeks.

He got his sillies out for six weeks and then hes back to school and its like, Hey, hes learning something and not forgetting.

Last year, returning to school in July simply wasnt possible with the coronavirus pandemic putting plans for the school year in flux.

So for the first time, the current students at Kenwood and Barkstall experienced a long summer and long stretches with minimal breaks.

For the 2021-22 school year, the Champaign school district is offering two options for families: fully in-person classes or the districts Distance Learning Academy, a regular-calendar school that will act as a separate school.

The district will send parents a request to make a decision on March 29, and the decision they make will be in effect for the entire year, although theyll have a chance to revisit their choice at the semester break as long as in-person space is available.

Thats a really hard choice, said Ashley Hallock, whose son, Luke, is in fourth grade at Kenwood. This year has been hard on all of us. But for the boys not to be able to go hang out with their friends, thats taking a toll as well.

That means families of Kenwood and Barkstall elementary students will have a decision that not only affects whether they attend school virtually or in person, but also whether they go to school with a balanced calendar or a regular calendar.

And with balanced-calendar schools resuming classes on July 22, that leaves less time for critical questions to be answered, including whether children will be able to be vaccinated.

If we were doing in person, wed be excited about the return to a balanced calendar, Elli said. But were kind of afraid right now.

Were excited that they have balanced, but we might not be in person. Were going to wait to see how we get a vaccine. When is a vaccine available for 9-year-olds? Once Mollys vaccinated, once Victor gets vaccinated, were like, Shove them in the school. But were kind of like, Eh, how are we going to do this?

A year after the district struggled with its decision as to whether to invite kids back into classrooms for the start of the year, its up to parents this year to weigh the risk against the reward.

Well have to figure out the lesser of two evils, Hallock said. There really isnt a great option. I dont necessarily fault the district for that, but I dont feel that with the time were going to have to make a decision, we wont have enough information to make a decision.

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Coronavirus response | Families of balanced-calendar students weigh options for unusual year - Champaign/Urbana News-Gazette