We, the undersigned parents, students, and community members, respectfully ask our school district to reevaluate the current academic calendar and consider a schedule that starts later in August and extends further into June.

For many families, the current calendar feels increasingly disconnected from both the weather and the realities of modern family life.

This year, students begin summer break around May 21 — often while temperatures are still cool, pools are closed, and true summer weather hasn’t even arrived yet. Meanwhile, students are expected to return to school by August 13, when temperatures are still at peak summer heat and families are trying to enjoy the final weeks of summer together.

In practice, our children lose some of the best summer weeks of the year.

We understand the importance of instructional days and academic standards, but we believe there is room to create a more balanced calendar that better aligns with:

Seasonal weather patterns
Family travel opportunities
Student mental health and burnout
Outdoor recreation and summer activities
The realities of modern working families
Many parents feel that:

Late May is often too cold to fully enjoy summer break.
Mid-August is still very much summer in Illinois.
Students and teachers alike would benefit from a slightly later start and later end to the school year
We are not asking for fewer instructional days — only a more thoughtful distribution of them.

Potential considerations could include:

Starting school after August 20
Extending the school year further into June
Reevaluating long breaks throughout the year
Exploring more balanced calendar models used successfully in other districts
Our goal is simple: create a calendar that better reflects family life, student wellness, and the actual Midwest climate we live in.

We respectfully ask the district administration and school board to open a public discussion on this issue and seriously consider adjustments for future academic years.

Sincerely,

D205 Parents