DISTRICT STUDIES CALENDAR COMMITTEE LEANS TOWARD NEW 'BLENDED' SCHOOL SCHEDULE.

Byline: Eugene Tong  Staff Writer

CASTAIC - The Castaic Union School District is considering a switch from the current traditional September-to-June calendar for the so-called ``blended'' schedule used by most local school districts, officials said Monday.

The calendar, which includes a mid-August start, a weeklong fall break and extended winter or spring breaks, could be implemented as early as next year once details are finalized, said Beverly Silsbee, superintendent of the K-8 Castaic district.

``We're trying to come up with the whole issue of the start and stop,'' Silsbee said. ``Then some people would like to have a week in October. The other option would be to take some days over to the Thanksgiving holiday. ... (For eighth-graders) we need to end school soon enough so they can attend the first day of summer school in the Hart (high school) district.''

A committee composed of administrators, teachers, staffers and community members was expected to submit a proposed schedule for a school board vote in February, Silsbee said.

``Parents take a lot more sophisticated vacations these days than they used to,'' she said. ``We have parents who are now booking flights for the summer.''

Castaic officials had planned to adopt the schedule this school year, but held off for Northlake Elementary's opening.

``Our school was not going to be open until September,'' Silsbee said. ``That's not going to be an issue this next year so we can start earlier.''

Local elementary school districts including Newhall, Saugus and Sulphur Springs have their variations of the blended calendar. They are mostly aligned with the William S. Hart Union High School District, which includes a three-week winter break.

Castaic's proposed scheduled also would bring it more in line with Hart's, but don't expect a mirror image.

``I don't think we will be matching it exactly like Hart's, but we will be looking at blending a lot of ideas together,'' Silsbee said. ``We think three weeks is too long for kids in the winter, but we don't want to be too far off in their holidays because that will not be good for parents.''

``It would be really nice if all the school districts would be able to work closer together on that kind of thing,'' said Bill McDermott, a Castaic assistant superintendent. ``But each school district has its traditions, and each calendar is worked out between the district and (their unions), with a whole lot of input from a lot of other people.''

For Castaic teachers negotiating the calendar, the blended schedule allows both teachers and students a moment of rest between long stretches of classes.

``When you start in September and you go all the way to December before you get those two weeks, it seems like a really long time,'' said Krysti Wilson, president of the Castaic Teachers Association. ``When you have that break, it just refreshes them and gives them some time with their families.''

Wilson, a kindergarten teacher at Fair Oaks Elementary, agreed a two-week winter break seemed just right for young children.

``They're so ready to go,'' said Wilson, referring to her students Monday. ``They're excited to be here. I don't know what happens. After two weeks of Christmas break they seem to mature so much.''

Eugene Tong, [phone]

eugene.tong(at)dailynews.com