Harnett Co. Schools Consider Year-Round Schedule

"We sometimes have three to four weeks of review before we can begin the curriculum for that grade level," said N. Harnett Primary School principal JoanLanier. "They haveforgotten a lot over the summer."

Harnett County Superintendent Donald Andrews is surveying parents to see what kindof plan they might want for their children. He says the plan can range from a pilot program at one school all the way to a full conversion of the county's25 schools.

While the year-round concept is well-known in the Triangle, it would be a huge changeand possibly a hard sell in Harnett County. Parent Tina Tanner does not like the idea.

"I don't want the two schedules to deal with -- one year-round and one in the standardprogram," she said. "I think a traditional calendar has always worked. Why changeit?"

If the school board votes for a change, students would not make the shift until the2002-2003 school year. The board plans to discuss the ideaon Feb. 19.