PORT ST. JOHN, Fla. – The Brevard County School Board on Tuesday discussed the possibility of expanding a year-round school pilot program that is currently underway at Challenger 7 Elementary School in Port St. John.
Board member Megan Wright said she wants to bring what the “modified calendar” to other schools in Port St. John.
[RELATED: 2024-25 year-round school calendar]
“I want to push forward with really looking at for [20]25-26 sending out a survey to our families, targeting specifically the Port St. John community, because there are three elementary schools and there’s a junior/senior to ask them to put up a calendar, (a) being our traditional school calendar and (b) being the modified calendar, and ask the families which calendar would you prefer for your family,” Wright said.
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Wright said she’s in favor of year-round school being a district-wide initiative but understood taking a cautious approach to ensure that everything runs smoothly.
She cited the success at Challenger 7 Elementary and how the school didn’t have quite as many hurricane makeup days because one of those hurricanes happened during a break period.
“So (that’s) another advantage to this wonderful calendar,” she added.
Three other school board members at the work session supported sending a survey to families in Port St. John. However, board member Katye Campbell voiced concerns about the logistical challenges of implementing such a schedule for the 2025-2026 school year, particularly for secondary schools.
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“So I don’t have a problem with sending out a survey to the Port St. John families. I would have more pushback on trying to make it happen for [20]25-26 because of the timeline of placement of staff,” said Campbell, adding that there are a lot more activities because junior/seniors have sports and music activities to coordinate.
The survey will be distributed to families in the Port St. John community in January.
News 6 reporter James Sparvero talked to Space Coast Jr./Sr. High parents Thursday and reactions were mixed.
“I think it’s a good idea,” Stephen Soto said. “They have enough off-time already.”
Christina Wright, on the other hand, said she doesn’t think her 10th-grade son would like making the switch for his remaining years of school.
“I don’t think he would just adapt as easily since he’s been doing it this traditional way all these years,” the mother said.
Wright said she has children in elementary school, as well.
Kristen Denczek said her family has a similar situation but she’s open to changing the schedule.
“I have one at Enterprise so if it affects him, then it affects the girls here, and that would be fine,” she said.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a state law last year establishing a pilot program at elementary schools in five Florida districts.
The four-year program aims to assess whether learning losses decrease over the summer, according to state Senator Linda Stewart, D-Orlando, who sponsored the Senate version of the bipartisan bill.