San Fernando Valley : Students Protest Year-Round Schedule

About 200 Van Nuys high school students staged their second campus sit-in in as many weeks Friday to protest the change to a year-round schedule that eliminates traditional summer vacations for about two-thirds of them.

School authorities, after long debate and heated protests from parents, adopted the 12-month calendar to cope with the 600 ninth-graders who will be added in July when the school goes from a three-year to a four-year institution.

Although many students said they joined the demonstration simply to enjoy an outdoor class break in sunny weather, others voiced energetic opposition to the year-round calendar.

Molly Dames, 16, said the district should rent five bungalows to house the additional students instead of changing the calendar.

“We don’t have a voice in this school,” the junior said at the sit-in. “If we go on year-round classes, there won’t be as many class options, special electives or [advanced placement] classes. Year-round has caused a very emotional issue in this school.”