The Menomonee Falls School District is preparing for a major overhaul of its curriculum and testing to prepare for more rigorous state standards in 2014.

In order to provide staff time to transition, the School Board is considering an altered schedule that includes an early release every Wednesday at all schools.

Teachers would use the hour each Wednesday to meet as a collective unit, which is difficult to do with so many teachers leading extracurricular activities after school. Before school, elementary school teachers are often in individual meetings with students and parents.

While the early release was thought to be the major point of contention regarding the proposal, there’s another change that's getting attention: Spring Break. 

In the 2013-14 school year, Spring Break would occur the week before – rather than after - Easter Sunday, which occurs April 20 in 2014. Many school districts schedule Spring Break the week after Easter. Superintendent Dr. Patricia Greco said they scheduled vacation a week before Easter to accommodate Advanced Placement testing, which is administered starting May 1. 

The School Board is still soliciting feedback about the schedule proposal, and will likely vote mid-January if there are no major concerns received from the public.

What do you think? Do the dates of Spring Break in 2013-14 throw a wrench in your vacation plans next year? Should Spring Break be the week after Easter? Please vote in our Patch survey.