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Fairfield Cuts February Break for Next School Year

FAIRFIELD, Conn. – Next February might be the last time Fairfield’s kids get a full week off in midwinter. The Board of Education voted to eliminate the full February break from the calendar for the 2012-13 school year in favor of an earlier end to classes.

“I believe it makes more educational sense,” said board member John Convertito, who proposed the change. “I think it’s more appropriate to shorten the break in February and use the excess time to the end of the school year.”

Under the plan, students will still have a four-day weekend in February 2013. The board moved a professional development day from January to Feb. 15, the Friday before Presidents Day, which will also be a day off. But school will now be in session on Feb. 19 to 22, cutting four vacation days from 2013.

Those four days will give Fairfield an earlier summer vacation in 2013, if there are no snow days. Without any closures, the 2012-13 school year will end June 12. Under the new plan, the district will add up to seven days on the end of the school year before cutting into April vacation, up from the three already in the schedule.

Superintendent David Title said he had no preference before the board’s vote. “I think you could make a case that those four potential days in February are better educationally than the four days at the end of the year,” he said, adding that it was ultimately up to the community.

Parents speaking at the meeting were split on the plan. Jay Wolk, a Stratfield school parent, said custodians and parents he talked to wanted to keep the break to clean up the school. But Christine Vitale of Dwight School said her PTA agreed that they would rather have more time off in the hotter months than in February.

The board voted 5-3-1 to get rid of February break for 2012-13. But they also agreed to keep a different day off in the schedule: Veterans Day. Convertito also proposed eliminating the day off on Monday, Nov. 12, and holding assemblies in school to honor veterans instead. But the board decided by a 7-2 margin to keep the observed holiday.

“I think if you offend even one veteran by holding school on that day, then that’s one veteran too many,” said chair Pamela Iacono. “For anybody that’s willing to lie down and die for our country, I think that we can stay home from school for a day.” 

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