As his classmates streamed out of Jefferson Elementary on the last day of school yesterday, fifth-grader Eric Choy was having mixed feelings about summer vacation.

Eric is enrolled in summer programs that will last six weeks of the seven-week break. So, for the first time in several years his family won't take their annual trip to see his grandmother in San Jose, Calif.

"I already finished school," Eric said. "I don't want to start school, and then stop, then start and stop again."

As more than 175,000 public school students go on summer vacation this week, education officials are mulling whether to lengthen the summer break for the 2009-2010 school year.

The current school calendar, as well as the calendar for the 2008-2009 school year, maintains a seven-week summer break, which some have argued does not allow for adequate summer school for students or professional development time for teachers.

Public school students are expected back in class July 28.

But Board of Education members have begun to consider various other calendar proposals, including one that would shorten spring break by a week and lengthen summer by a week.

Education officials are expected to discuss the 2009-2010 school calendar this month, said Margaret Cox, chairwoman of the BOE's regular education committee.

"If there is a change I wouldn't expect it to be a massive change," Cox said. "One of the options that has been discussed is adding a week to summer."

It is also highly likely that the board may not change the calendar at all, Cox said.

When the shortened summer break first took effect two years ago, parents and teachers expressed concern that it could decrease summer school opportunities, said Bob Campbell, director of program support and development for the DOE.

Traditionally, summer break had lasted 11 weeks.

"There's also a dilemma for teachers wanting to go back to the university (in the summer). That's not a lot of time," Campbell said.

"There is still some time to discuss if there is some way to balance all the various interests," he said.

Fayanne Sasaoka, a sixth-grade teacher at Jefferson Elementary in Waikiki, said extending summer by one week wouldn't make a significant difference for her.

At noon yesterday, Sasaoka's classroom was a hurricane of parents, graduating students, lei and report cards.

"I do like the short summer, with the breaks in between," she said. "It does give us a breather."

UNIFIED CALENDAR

Teachers can take professional development courses that are timed to coincide with the summer break, she said. But it can be tough for her colleagues to juggle teaching with other extended courses that overlap with school, like those offered by the University of Hawai'i.

At one point, Sasaoka was teaching sixth grade during the day, then leaving to take a course at the university from 4 to 8 p.m.

"It's tiring, but doable," she said.

The 2008-2009 school year will be the third year that all 256 public schools have operated under one common calendar.

Prior to that, two out of every three schools were operating under different calendars, Campbell said. That often led to scheduling confusion for parents who had children in multiple schools, he said.

With the unified calendar and the shortening of summer, options for summer schools became limited.

About 75 schools offered summer school four years ago. That's down to about 40 schools this year.

MIXED FEELINGS

Cox said board members are discussing whether adding an additional week to the summer calendar will help increase summer school or credit recovery options for high school students.

"We want to make sure we are able to provide for the kids who may not be passing," Cox said.

But Cox also added that the Hawai'i State Student Council has expressed support for the current school calendar with its shortened summer break.

"People have gotten used to this calendar. They really like the breaks between sessions," Cox said.

The current school calendar allows for a one-week break in the fall, a three-week break in the winter and a two-week break in the spring.

Parents yesterday seemed mixed about changing the current school calendar.

Sharon Komesu is an educational aide at Jefferson, so her schedule coincides with that of her two daughters.

But, for other working parents, the frequent short breaks "can be hard," she said. "Especially having that extra break over Christmas."

Dustin McEwen and his wife, a former teacher, try to keep their 5-year-old learning over the summer with daily projects and math challenges.

A longer summer vacation might mean more time to forget regular lessons, McEwen said.

"It just seems a little bit long already," he said. "It takes kids longer to get back into the swing of things."

But, "I think all kids love a longer summer."