Six-Term School Year Finds Favor

A recent survey indicates that most Ann Arbor residents were not strongly opposed to a split-trimester extended school year. About 30 per cent of those sampled were not in favor but if the switch could be tied to a reduction in property taxes and savings to the schools, they would approve. The survey, which was chartered by the State Board of Education for s i x Michigan School Districts, was conducted by Lincorp Research Inc. The split-trimester concept involves a 12-month school calendar divided into six terms Students would be required to attend five of the six terms each year. "The major advantage of this plan is that at any given time there would be only five-sixths use of the facilities," explained Michael Morton, president of the research Corporation. This would enable the present facilities to meet the growing enrollment needs of the district he added. The survey was taken from about 400 registered voters with a supplementary sample of about 90 black parents. Fifty per cent of those surveyed indicated they would approve of the new plan, with black parents following the same trend. Another 20 per cent indicated indecisión. Most parents of pre-school and elementary school children were more in favoi of the change than parents of high schcol students. School Supt. R. Bruce McPherson said that although the plan may help overcrowding, the fact is that most families are accustomed to taking their vacations in the summer. This would lead to the problem of making the program have an equal distribution of students during the 12-month schedule.