Bibb Schools Superintendent Romain Dallemand says his strategic plan for improving the district's schools will include a call for year-round schools.
This morning, he gave the business community a preview of what his strategic plan would look like when it is finalized in January.
He spoke at a breakfast hosted by the Greater Macon Chamber of Commerce and asked for community support for measures including
-- a "portfolio school system" where students attend a school that specialized in a field of their choosing;
-- making students learn Mandarin Chinese and technology in addition to English;
-- and making students attend school throughout the year.
Dallemand has spoke in support of year-round schools in the past, but had not committed to including it in his plan.
He said the current school calendar created a summer learning lag, and teachers have to spend the first few months of the school year helping students catch up.
He said a year-round school calendar "won't benefit adults, but it would be better for students."
Dallemand said the plan is still being formulated from the thousands of suggestions that came out of district-wide strategic planning sessions in September and October.
But he asked for the business community's support to implement the bold changes he says are needed to improve education in Bibb County.
"It will require bold steps, fierce and courageous leadership," he said. "It will take each and every one in this room."