Midlands school districts prepare to return to school on modified calendar

CAMDEN, SC (WOLO) — Does a shorter summer break lead to a better overall school year?

That’s what some Midlands school districts have found since switching to a modified calendar.

“Our journey toward implementing the modified academic calendar started with conversations with teachers and how they felt as a result of COVID,” said Dr. Claudia Avery, deputy superintendent for Fairfield County School District. 

Fairfield County School District leaders heard from teachers that they were burnt out and needed some time off between Christmas and spring break.  The district looked to adopt a different school calendar, one that had gone into effect a year earlier in neighboring Kershaw County.

“It does allow us plenty of time to do our summer school and reading camps but gives those kids time off,” said Dr. Harrison Goodwin, Kershaw County School District superintendent. “It does help with summer slide academically.”

Not only does the 8-week summer break instead of a 10-week break help prevent some learning loss, it also provides teachers and students with time away from the classroom in October and February.

“We didn’t realize how popular the fall interim break would be,” Dr. Goodwin said. “That gives families an opportunity to do things a little bit differently.”

This school year will be the third for Fairfield County to follow the modified calendar, which has been popular with students as well as parents and teachers.

“Even our students appreciate completing their semester exams before they leave for Christmas break,” said Dr. Avery. “That way they can enjoy their Christmas break and come back refocused.”

Also new in Fairfield County, a new superintendent. Dr. Tony Hemingway begins his first full school year in charge of the district on Thursday and hopes to continue to build on the academic and extracurricular success of Fairfield County schools.

“Academics is very important and that’s our main focus but arts and athletics are part of developing the full child,” said Dr. Hemingway. “We do find that those things enhance our learning environment and learning outcomes for children.”

No matter what school calendar districts follow, district leaders say that recent years have also shed light on the importance of addressing the mental health of students.

“We’ve had to retool how we deliver those services,” Goodwin said. “We’ve been fortunate that we have partners that will allow us to continue to address mental health counseling.”

Lexington 3 School District has already returned to class. Kershaw and Fairfield counties will be joined by Sumter. Lee and Saluda County students, who all start their new school years on Thursday.