t because classroom space is needed to get their kindergarten kids out of the churches that are currently substituting for their classrooms. That's an important concern, but with the Pleasant Valley Board's wasteful $71 million building program, the kindergarten kids are stuck in the churches for at least two years. However, Implementing year-round schooling now would take the kids out of the churches, and it would do it now, not in two years. Year-round schools could be in place within a year or less. That would relieve any overcrowding a full year or more before the District’s building plans would be put to use. Aside from the cost savings though, the primary benefit of year-round education is it’s educational advantages. By eliminating the three month long gap between grades, it enables teachers to facilitate what they call "continuous learning" and avoid the learning loss that many educators say occurs in many students over the extended summer break. "Year-round education more closely resembles the way that we learn," explained Kelly Johnson, a communications specialist with NAYRE. "Research supports the existence of summer learning loss. As a result, teachers may spend as much as six to eight weeks each fall reviewing the same concepts taught the previous year." This problem prompted Bayless, principal at McKinley, to explore the possibility of YRE. After researching the idea, the school decided on a 45-15, single-track, year-round plan. In other words, the school year is divided into four nine-week terms separated by four three-week vacations, with a five-week break during the summer. The term "single-track" indicates that all of the 460 students who attend McKinley share the same schedule. Bayless has nothing but positive things to say about her school's transition to YRE. In addition to improving learning retention, she notes "it gives the children four fresh starts each year. Report cards come out every nine week...
