Downers Grove May Start Earlier Next School Year; Committee to Evaluate Changes

By FERNANDA ZAMUDIO-SUAREZ (Patch Staff)

Downers Grove Community High School District 99 may start the 2016-2017 school year earlier, the Chicago Tribune reports.

Proposed changes may have students in classrooms by Aug. 16. The traditional calendar now has students starting school Aug. 29.

With the early start calendar, winter and summer break comes later, starting Dec. 22 to Jan. 4. The school year would conclude May 24 for summer holiday.

Superintendent Mark McDonald tasked a committee of administrators, teachers and staff to study how the potential changes would affect the schools. The committee will also evaluate a survey 1,500 respondents answered about proposed changes.

One of the larger issues the committee will face is early August heat. Not all schools in North 99’s District are equipped with air conditioners, but theChicago Tribune reports the district has plans to add air conditioning units to all its buildings.

The Board of Education wants a decision to be made by Feb. 1.