Public schools will share common days for spring break

CARROLL COUNTY -- Awaiting the governor's signature is a new state law that would make it mandatory for all public schools in Arkansas to share a common spring break -- the 38th week of school, which usually falls in late March.

That is good news for some area school superintendents, such as Alpena's James Trammell, who said, "I'm strongly for it.

"We like to think of ourselves as our own little island," he said, "but we have too many things that are tied to others."

As an example, Trammell said Alpena coordinates its spring break with the North Arkansas College schedule because Alpena students are enrolled in vo-tech courses at the Harrison campus.

In addition, Alpena's distance learning classes are tied to a Little Rock campus.

Besides class coordination, Trammell said those who work in neighboring districts often can't spend spring break with their children or spouses because of scheduling differences.

"Just last week I had someone tell me they haven't shared a spring break with their spouse in four or more years," he said. "I hope the move to a uniform spring break is permanent."

He was referring to the law's two-year timetable, effective during the 2009-10 and 2010-11 school years.

An advisory committee is to review the affect of the common spring break during that time period, taking into account academic, extracurricular, athletic school activities -- and state tourism.

Eureka Springs School Superintendent Wayne Carr said he also favors a uniform spring break.

Eureka and Alpena have shared the same spring break schedule, March 16-20, while Berryville and Green Forest students and staff have their spring break the following week, March 23-27.

Personally, Carr said, a uniform spring break would allow him the opportunity to spend that week with his grandchildren, who attend a district with a conflicting schedule.

Carr said he has several teachers who live in neighboring districts, their children attend classes in those districts, and they haven't been able to share spring break with their children because of scheduling differences.

"It does help me and several of my teachers," he said of the new law.

Berryville's superintendent Dr. Randy Bryd said he was also in favor of a unified spring break. In fact, he said, all superintendents were contacted and it was discovered that all but 18 or 19 school districts of the state's more than 300 school districts were already taking the same spring break.

Known as Senate Bill 226, sponsored by Shane Broadway of Bryant, the law passed by a vote of 77-16 on March 3 and was sent on to Gov. Mike Beebe for his signature.

Rep. Bryan King said there was a "fair amount of discussion" prior to its passage, and he voted against it, explaining, "If districts felt like it was a good thing, they could work it out among themselves."

Language in the bill states, "The 38th week of the school year shall be calculated by counting week one the first week in July that begins on a Sunday."

It does state that a school district can opt to reduce the number of days on spring break by not taking a full week off. This would allow districts the option to make up snow days during spring break if necessary.

The bill does not require state universities, such as the University of Arkansas, to follow the calendar, only K-12 public schools.

Steve Vorhies, media relations with the UofA, said it is the recommendation of the administration and faculty that the university take its spring break with the state's K-12 schools.

He said the reason is simple, many university staffers have children attending K-12 public schools and want to take their spring break with their children. He said a vote on the matter to formalize the recommendation is expected next week.