Killeen ISD students went back to school Monday following a week-long fall break in their schedule.
In February, the school board approved a new academic calendar for the 2023-2024 school year that included the week of October 9-13, 2023, as a respite for students and staff.
In an article by Taina Northington, Chief Communications Director with the district, she said the new fall break would be very similar to spring break.
“UIL games and practices will still continue and Central Texas College students will be transported and be required to engage in college classes as scheduled,” Northington said.
The break was scheduled to coincide with the end of the first nine weeks of the school year. A time when report cards were completed and the commencement of scheduled parent-teacher conferences.
According to Misty Carlisle, a parent of two students in Killeen, the break was a welcome relief to her family.
“It allowed us to plan a vacation that we never would have had at any other time,” Carlisle said. “We missed summer vacation with sports and other activities and I don’t like to travel at the holidays.”
Another parent, who wished not to be identified said, “this was so unexpected. I had to find childcare for my 6- and 7-year-old,” she said. “It seems like a waste of time to add hours or days to the schedule, just so we can take off a week in October.”
Northington explained the rationale used by trustees when making their decision.
“KISD employees were surveyed about the alternate calendar prior to the Board of Trustees taking action (in February); 79% of employees voted in favor of adding the fall break. The new calendar does not negatively impact employee pay, in fact, KISD employees will work fewer days and their pay will remain whole. In fact, the new calendar will allow all employee duty calendars to be reduced by four days without reducing pay.”
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