Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Year Round Schools topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Hillsborough parents press Orange County Schools for year‑round middle school option
Summary
More than 320 parents, teachers and community members asked the Orange County Board of Education to study and set a timetable for a year‑round middle school, saying it would help retain families and reduce summer learning loss.
More than 320 parents, teachers and community members delivered an open letter at the Orange County Board of Education meeting asking the district to establish a year‑round middle school option to serve students coming from Hillsborough Elementary School’s year‑round program and other families across the district.
The request was presented by Kate Center, president of the Hillsborough Elementary PTA, who said the letter calls on the board to "put this issue on the agenda, hold a discussion, and provide families with a clear timetable for action." Center told the board many families leave the district for schools that already offer year‑round calendars.
Parents who spoke during public comment described academic and practical benefits they attribute to year‑round scheduling. Chelsea Morrison, a Hillsborough parent and former year‑round student in Wake County, said year‑round calendars do not have to harm athletics and noted examples from her experience where teams continued to practice and compete across intersessions. Monica Meyer and Katie Harper, other Hillsborough parents, said the schedule and community at Hillsborough Elementary have been valuable to their families.
Board members acknowledged the request during their comments. Board member Hauser said the board should "bring them together and say, what are the facts?" and requested a formal board conversation or work session on year‑round programming so the district can examine evidence on benefits and trade‑offs. Several other board members said they supported studying the issue, and Chair Purcell indicated the board would bring the item back so members could shape how a study or discussion should proceed.
Why it matters: Supporters said a year‑round middle school could reduce summer learning loss, provide regular breaks that help students and teachers recharge, offer more enrichment for struggling and advanced learners, and help retain families who otherwise enroll their children in year‑round options outside the district.
What the board will do next: The board did not adopt a policy or take a formal vote on the request at this meeting. Board members asked staff to schedule follow‑up so the board can review options and data; a formal proposal or timing for a decision was not specified at the meeting.
Votes and formal actions: No formal motion or vote on year‑round program adoption occurred during this meeting; the issue was raised in public comment and directed for future board consideration.
