Skipping summer and sending students to school 11 months of the year is being considered by the Greater Essex County District School Board.

Parents on three school councils in the public board approached director of education Warren Kennedy about year-round schooling, which is already underway in some schools in Ontario.

"Unfortunately there is not a lot of conclusive literature out and available to us. It's really limited when it comes to academic comparisons," said Kennedy. "We have some work to do around that."

Two of the councils traveled with one of the board's superintendants to the Roberta Bondar Public School in Brampton, Ont., which has been offering year-round schooling for eight years.

The school's principal tells CBC News it's better for the health and wellness of students because they're coming back rejuvenated and receive extended breaks five times a year.

He claims there are many benefits to rearranging the elementary school structure.

Idea floated at three local schools

Kennedy, meanwhile, visited Dr. H.D. Taylor, Talbot Trail and King Edward public schools to speak to school councils about the concept and so far he said there is an interest in the idea.

Kennedy said the current schooling structure was developed when we were a nation more dependent on the land.

Still, things like summer programs for youth, employment opportunities, transportation and air conditioning are "huge" factors that Kennedy said must now be taken into account.

"Having families where one child is attending year round and another one is in the current model is probably something that could be disruptive," said Kennedy.

The model Kennedy is eyeing would offer a reprieve for students in July and they would return in August.

Kennedy said around Thanksgiving Day, students may see a week off and the Christmas break would turn into a three-week vacation.

In February kids would get a full week off and March break would have an additional seven days, making it two-weeks long, he added.

Schooling doesn't change

"The bottom line is that the 194 days that the children attend doesn't change," said Kennedy. "It's just spread out differently throughout the year."

This year he plans to form a committee to look at the feasibility of integrating year-round schooling into elementary schools.

He's mentioned the idea to board trustees, but first Kennedy said he will invite parents, students, unions, federations and office staff to discuss the concept.

"If it's something we want to pursue we're probably looking at two years from now," said Kennedy.