APS board discusses future of 45/15 schedule

(ABC 6 News) – Discussion around enrollment in Austin Public schools took a majority of the time at Monday evening’s school board meeting — regarding the districts 45/15 calendar.

While no final action was taken at the board meeting. There were some big decisions were made regarding the district’s year-round schedule.

Right now, Austin elementary students can attend year-round school, where they go to class for 45 days, then have a 15-day break.

The district has to re-apply for 45-15 schooling, but after looking over the data, the board said it will not be re-applying meaning students will have to go back to a regular school year calendar

The decision brought up a lot of questions and concerns for students and families Monday evening. The board says it wants to get more feedback from the community on moving forward with this decision.

“But if we’re going to put an application in and it’s approved, the other part to that is what are you going to do with your enrollment now? If you’re in the Sumner 45/15 and that’s your school no matter what, I think that defeats the purpose of a choice school,” said Superintendent Joey Page.

The board and Superintendent Dr. Joey Page are leaning towards going with not having the 45/15 schedule.

The district would have to make the decision on holding incoming first graders to their school of attendance based on residency or where they live.
As well as all incoming second through fourth graders would be grandfathered into the existing school of enrollment if desired.

But there would be no district-wide transportation into the Sumner elementary zone.