Cameron school officials aim to study whether changing the school-year calendar to include three-week breaks instead of one long summer vacation would be good for their students.

The modified school calendar could be in the future for Cameron schools depending on what is found by Cameron Elementary School Principal Wendy Clutter and Cameron High School Principal Jack Cain. Both plan to investigate the possibility.

"We're trying to get all the information we can to see if it could work in the area," Clutter said. "We want to bring schooling into the 21st century."

The Marshall County Board of Education recently gave the principals permission to apply for a Innovation Zone Grant of up to $50,000 to fund the information gathering process. Cain said they were interested in touring schools that have tried it and get the opinion of faculty and students on how well the modified calendar has worked.

Clutter said the modified school calendar has been around for a while. Kanawha County started using a modified calendar about 10 years ago. This is when she said she first heard about it. The Kanawha County calendar has students in school for nine weeks followed by three weeks off. An optional "intersession" week is part of the three weeks off which allows students to get caught up on work or get ahead.

There are four nine-week periods. The fourth is followed by a five-week summer break.

Clutter said, "It would not reduce the number of days in school."

There are options and variations on calendar schedules.

"The schools will have to also look at the needs of the community. We would need to see what would work best for us," she said.

For example, they said at this time of year it might be advantageous to work around hunting season. Cain noted the high absentee rate, at the high school, on the opening day of hunting season.

"Absenteeism has been a significant issue at both schools," he said. They pointed out some research has shown schools have less absenteeism and teacher burnout with a modified calendar. This is one reason the idea of the modified calendar has really "heated up over the last two years," Cain said.

Both principals stressed this is all still in early investigative stages.

"It does not necessarily mean we're going to implement it," Cain said.

A change, in the school calendar, could not take place for at least a year and a half and would only be for the Cameron schools.

"The grant is just for the study," Clutter said. "We want to see if a modified calendar and programming would be an advantage to our students."

Cain said, "It's a reorganization of days. There would be a summer break and additional breaks as well. It's just a new outlook on things. It would also try to implement a lot more technology and new world experience." The change, they said, could also make teacher training more relevant with teacher workshops during the three week breaks.

"It would be nice to have time for things like that," Clutter said.

She also emphasized the intersession week.

"The intersession week is what is innovative. It can be an enrichment time or an advancement time. We try to meet students where they are," she said.

The first few days following a break would be used for review as they are now.

"We're hoping to get a lot of information during the study period," she continued. Both have already met with teachers, in their schools, to discuss the issue. The application for the grant must be submitted by Dec. 29. If the grant application is approved they said they would begin their touring in the spring.

Clutter concluded, "We need to be open minded. We want to stay positive and not form an opinion too early. It could give families more options too, for things such as doctor appointments and vacations."