Ohio County parents vote no on year-round school

By Joselyn King

The Intelligencer/Wheeling News-Register

WHEELING, W.Va. – People told Ohio County Board of Education members Monday night they “want their summers back,” and they strongly oppose a year-round school calendar.

More than 200 concerned citizens turned out for a town hall meeting at Wheeling Park High School to discuss the school district’s 2014 calendar, and most indicated they vehemently oppose sending children to school during warm weather months. School officials asked those attending who among them opposed sending children to school throughout the year. A total of 179 people raised their hands in opposition, while just 14 thought it a good idea.

Many present also questioned why recent school years have begun in late August and ended by Memorial Day. They told board members they prefer classes to start after Labor Day, and the school calendar to end in June.

Shani Schellhase said children need time in the summer months for themselves – and so does the community.

“There is such a small opportunity to get our children outside, get them playing … exercising … moving,” she said. “For them to be sitting in a classroom, staring out the window, wishing they were outside (isn’t good for their learning.) We hear from teachers that when spring comes, they get spring fever and they want to be outside.”

She said she would like to see the district provide more options for a calendar, including one in which students start school after Labor Day.

“Why are we taking their summers away from them?” Schellhase asked. “They need to be children. They are children – they need that time to grow and do what they need to do.”

She also suggested a year-round calendar would be the “economic demise of Wheeling Park and Oglebay Park.” Many of those working in the parks during the summer are high school students who couldn’t continue in that role if they had school during those months, she said…

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