CLASS STRUGGLE MORE SCHOOLS GO TO TRADITIONAL CALENDAR.

Byline: Alex Dobuzinskis Staff Writer

GLENDALE - Glendale Unified School District will move two more schools off a year-round schedule and back to a traditional calendar this fall, as declining enrollment continues to free up space at the once overcrowded district.

Nine elementary schools had to be put on year-round calendars 15 years ago for lack of classroom space, but after this September's shift only four schools will remain on the year-round schedule.

And officials plan to transition the remaining schools to traditional calendars as their enrollment drops.

``What we're doing, really, is what was promised many years ago when they made the transition to year-round (schedules),'' Superintendent Michael Escalante said.

But views vary between teachers and parents on which schedules are the best.

In a January survey of nearly 2,500 parents at three GUSD schools that were recently moved to a traditional calendar, 87 percent said they like it better than year-round, according to the district.

Eighty-nine percent said having a summer break helps families coordinate activities, and 87 percent said all schools should be on the same calendar.

But the Glendale Teachers Association did its own survey in October, canvassing 700 teachers on both calendars.

Eighty-seven percent of teachers on year-round calendars said they wanted to keep that schedule, GTA President Allen Freemon said. ``The rhythm of the year-round schedule seemed to be wonderful from a teacher's perspective, for allowing a unit to be studied and then a break to be given - and a new unit to be introduced,'' said teacher Kim Labinger. ``And students didn't feel like they were left with long boring days at home.''

Named by the state as one of the top five teachers in California for 2005, Labinger teaches fourth-graders at Edison Elementary. Her school will switch to a traditional calendar in September.

Some teachers also say that having a shorter break helps students who are learning English as a second language because they do not have an extended break from it.

For school officials, however, the focus remains on getting all their schools on the same calendar.

``The clients that we serve - the parents - they've indicated great satisfaction when they get all of their family members on one schedule,'' Escalante said. ``That's absolutely been the drawing card on moving back to a traditional calendar.''

Principals at schools that have recently switched calendars or are preparing to said the change is going smoothly.

Teachers said they are also ready to accept the change.

When the district moves Edison and Jefferson elementary schools back to a traditional calendar in September, only Columbus, Keppel, Mann and White elementary schools will remain on the year-round calendar.

District officials hope to bring back the summer break to two of those schools next year.

``I have only heard positive responses from parents on moving back to the traditional calendar. It makes life easier,'' said Patty Scripter, president of the Glendale Council PTA.

``Hopefully one of the other benefits of declining enrollment is going to be smaller class sizes,'' she said. ``So we'll see.''

Alex Dobuzinskis, [phone]

alex.dobuzinskis(at)dailynews.com

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Photo:

(ran in Glen/Bur edition only) Joseph Elmajian, left, jokes around with Alex Torosyan, center, and Arthur Babahanyan as the three head back to class after a recess break at Marshall Elementary School in Glendale.

Joe Binoya/Special to the Daily News