Barrington 220 Advisory Council’s Holds Public Forum on District Calendar

The Input 220 Advisory Council has been studying improvements to district calendar and now seeks the public’s input.

A public forum will be held at 7 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 24 at the Barrington Middle School-Station Campus, 215 Eastern Ave.

Thirty-five parents and community members are part of the Council and studied the idea of changing Barrington Community Unit School District 220’s school calendar over seven months.

At Tuesday’s forum, Input 220 members will show the first day of school in Barrington 220 historically ranges from Aug. 20-27 (with an average of Aug. 23). The committee is recommending an annual fixed start date no earlier than Aug. 20-22 (with an average of Aug. 21) in an effort to conclude the first semester before the winter vacation. The majority of Input 220 members believe this calendar adjustment has documented support from parents, staff and students as well as athletic programs and community organizations that were consulted.

The Council has researched all benefits, effects and costs any calendar changes would have for elementary, middle and high school students. They concluded this plan would provide more time for learning without increasing the number of student attendance days or decreasing family vacation time. Many other school districts in Illinois and across the U.S. that have or have not made this change were studied.

Residents and staff can hear and comment on a drafts of the probable recommendation to the Board of Education.

Input 220 was charged by the Board of Education to consider and recommend whether the two semesters should be realigned so the first semester would end at the traditional winter vacation and the second semester would begin immediately following the break. Voting members of Input 220 were parents, community members and educators, representing every Barrington 220 school.

After the forum, the Board will receive the recommendation on Oct. 15 and will make a final decision regarding possible calendar changes sometime in the coming months. All documents, research, agendas, minutes and comments related to this process are fully viewable at Input 220's website. 

Submitted by Barrington 220