Several Sumner teachers and district officials attended the meeting, as well, to show support for continuing the research process. Each of them agreed that Sumner staff supports the switch to a continuous calendar if it means better academic achievement for the students.

“We took a survey at school, and I don’t know if there’s anybody that wants to opt out at this point,” said Cece Kroc, the after school programming coordinator at Sumner. “Everybody’s been convinced that this is the best thing for our students.”

The next step for Sumner involves getting more research done as well as holding parent meetings in January to get a bit more feedback. Hispanic parents were notified of the potential switch during November’s Hispanic Parent Meeting at Sumner. They were supportive of the switch, according to Enrique Camarena, Sumner’s success coach.

“Most of the Hispanic parents are happy to have the change,” Camarena said. “It also helps a lot with no-English speaking students.”

Board members appear willing to support the switch if the community is willing to support it. While board member Aaron Keenan has heard some negative feedback from conversations he’s had with some community members, board member Don Fox said during the meeting he’s heard positive feedback from Austin residents who’ve spoken with him about the topic in passing.

“I think it’s got a lot of merit to it,” said Richard Lees, the board chairperson.

A final decision must be made by April 1, when schools across the state are required to have their calendars for the upcoming school year set. Sumner staff could complete the necessary research to make a proposal as early as February.

Sumner looks at year-long school calendar