Family/Guardian Gibson Elementary Survey
Family/Guardian Gibson Elementary Survey
Our school is beginning early planning for the 2027–2028 school year and we are considering adding some weeks of additional instruction. Before we make any decisions, we are gathering family and guardian input.
There are three possible options:
Option A would keep the school year exactly as it is today.
Option B would extend the school year by four weeks through an extended school year (ESY).
Option C would extend the school year by four weeks through a year-round school schedule (YRS).
Option A: Keep the Current Calendar (No Additional Weeks)
Students continue with the existing school schedule.
What this means:
School year remains August–May
Summer break remains the same length
No additional learning weeks added
Option B: Extended School Year (ESY)
Students attend school mostly as they do now, plus additional learning weeks during the summer.
What the year could look like (2027–2028):
Regular school year (August–May) on a Monday-Friday full-day schedule
PLUS 4 weeks of summer learning on a Monday-Thursday schedule with shorter days (e.g., 8:30 AM- 12:30 PM)
Focus on core skills and enrichment
Things families may want to plan for:
Shorter summer break
Adjusting camps, childcare, or travel
Option C: Year-Round School (YRS)
Students attend school the whole year with more frequent breaks.
What the year could look like (2027–2028):
School year would be July through August on a Monday-Friday full-day schedule
Shorter summer break
Several 2–3 week breaks during fall, winter, and spring
School divided into learning blocks followed by breaks
Same total learning time, spread across the year
Things families may want to plan for:
Different vacation timing than traditional calendars
Childcare during breaks
Adjusting to a new routine
Based on this information, please answer the following questions. Thank you for your input!
How many children in your home do you expect will attend Gibson Elementary during the 2027-2028 school year?
After reviewing the options, which calendar type is your top choice for the 2027-2028 Gibson school year?
How strongly do you support your top choice?
How manageable would each option be for your household?
How do you think each calendar would affect your child's / children's attendance?
Thinking about childcare needs, which of the following best describes your situation?
Based on what you know now, how do you think additional learning time would affect your child(ren)?
What, if anything, would make you more comfortable with a calendar change? Select all that apply.
Is there anything else we should know before we make this decision?
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. EA Gibson's ESY/YRS Program would be considered a Choice Program. Students enrolled at Gibson would automatically attend.
No. Parents/guardians would not incur any additional costs for the ESY/YRS program.
Yes. Both transportation and meals would be provided for students.
If Danville Public Schools chooses to proceed with one of the Choice Programs (ESY or YRS), the anticipated start would be the 2027-2028 school year.
By reducing the summer break, either model minimizes the 'summer slide,' or the possibility that students forget school curriculum during long breaks. Our goal is to increase the academic achievement of students and improve attendance.
Parents/guardians may need to adjust to finding childcare for shorter "intersession" breaks throughout the year rather than during one long summer break.
Have other questions?
Reach out to Annastasia Broomell:
abroomell@mail.dps.k12.va.us