BRILLION, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – State law does not allow schools to start the year before Sept. 1. However, 11 out of over 400 schools across the state have now been approved to start before then.
One of those being Brillion School District. Two others in the area include Peshtigo and Wausaukee School Districts.
The severity of COVID-19 is allowing DPI to waive districts from the current law.
Brillion Public School District’s superintendent, Dominick Madison, tells Fox 11 there’s two reasons behind why starting Aug. 24 works best for them.
“We’re trying to time the virus a little bit.”
The early start now allows Brillion to schedule longer Thanksgiving and Winter breaks, and an additional week off in February.
“It allowed us to stretch the year and include some breaks during the year in case we need them, again,” said Madison.
He says the other idea behind an early start means building relationships sooner rather than later between teachers and students.
“I think relationships are the foundation of education, we’ve realized that more than ever now especially when we had to go virtual.”
More than ever, that’s what teachers want too, according to Brillion third grade teacher, Nicole Fischer.
“I just want them to have a good experience and be able to come into the building again. I really felt like we were not able to do the same kinds of things we can do in the classroom.”
She tells FOX 11 starting early in the classroom, sets the tone for the year.
“The start is going to be very imperative for how things go the rest of the school year.”
As of now, Brillion intends to have kids in class five days a week.
According to DPI, other school districts across the state approved to start early include:
-Stanley-Boyd
-Kickapoo
-Melrose-Mindoro
-Greenwood
-Alma Center
-Webster
-Cornell
-Rice Lake
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