x
Breaking News
More () »

CCISD schoolyear calendar survey lets parents tell district know which intersessions, breaks are helpful

Should future school calendar years include an intersession? This is one of the questions district leaders want to know as they map out the next 2 schoolyears.

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — CCISD students are out of school this week as part of the district's intersession schedule.

The transition to incorporate intersession started right after COVID-19 as a way to give students and teachers a break to regroup.

Whether you like it, or think you have a better idea about how school leaders should plan out the district's calendar year, now's your chance to give your input.

The decision will ultimately be up to the CCISD Board of Trustees, but starting Monday, families and teachers will be able to take a short survey to help school leaders mold the 2025-26 school year as well as the 2026-27 school year.

Student Zoey Rodgers has pretty strong opinions as to whether she likes having the week off.

"Yessss!" she said. "Because we have so much fun and we get to take breaks from school, for once."

She spent the afternoon alongside her dad, Ben, and her brother, at the Corpus Christi Museum of Science and History.

"It's one of these things," he said. "You have intersession, which you are following up with Thanksgiving break and Christmas break. When it comes to scheduling and planning everything out, you got to plan on this break, this break, this break, work around your work schedule, accommodate what's here and there."

The museum, usually closed on Monday adjusted its days this week to accommodate parents who have kids on intersession, with additional activities focused on space.

It's where 3NEWS also found local dad Cory McCain with his daughter, Olive.  

"Someone said, 'Hey, they're off all next week,' " he said. "I was like 'Oh my gosh! Good thing I had some vacation set up," he said.

McCain admitted he was caught off-guard by the break, but he still he wouldn't change it.

"I remember when I was in school, I always wanted a break from school," he said. "Having an extra break was great. Being an adult now, with a job, it's a very different story. Plan ahead and make sure someone can watch your kid. It gives me more time with her, so that's awesome."

School board trustee Jane Bell said the intersession became quite popular a few years back. 

"The nice thing about being in intersession -- a lot of parents like this break because the resorts they are trying to go to, like Disney World, isn't as crowded, might not be as expensive, and it's cooler, so they take advantage of those opportunities," she said.

It was an opportunity that is tired directly with its "District of Innovation" status.

"It really came into play in the COVID years when the state was giving us flexibility and we saw at that time how important it was for us to have this kind of calendar," Bell said.

Now the district is planning out the next round of school calendars and, in turn, helping families plan ahead, as well.

One option on the table includes a weeklong intersession.

The second option doesn't, meaning a later start to the school year and earlier end to it.

Bell said it's important for parents and teachers to take the survey on what they would like to see.

"That is where we really need the parent information, and also the teacher input, too, where we are going to put intersessions, how long Christmas break, things like that that are really important," she said

The deadline to fill out the survey is Oct. 25.

Before You Leave, Check This Out