The Festus School District is considering joining a small number of public school districts throughout the region that hold school year-round. In today’s story, Festus District grapples with idea of year-round schooling, we learn that a committee is meeting in the Jefferson County district to study the issue, they say, to help solve overcrowding.

Francis Howell district elementary schools in St. Charles County have been in year-round sessions for many years, and parents there seem to like it.

“It’s become such a part of our school community and culture; it’s part of who we are,” said Stacey King, principal of Central Elementary in the Francis Howell district.

Some charter schools operate on a year-round basis too.

Across the nation, as well has here, districts consider the schedule change to either solve overcrowding, or to enhance the learning experience.

Some say that year-round schooling is a better use of resources, while others against the proposal like the downtime during the summer to conduct building and plant maintenance.

Teachers and students have become accustomed to nine weeks of classes followed by three-week breaks and enjoy the fact that the next break is never far away.

So, is it really better for students to stay in school year round, with two or three week breaks in-between sessions? A number of educators like the plan because students will be on a continuous learning cycle and be less apt to “forget” what they learned after a long three-month vacation.