Will the less than positive parental response to schedule changes to add more teacher planning time derail the proposal?
As noted in today's article, school board members have heard from a lot of parents who aren't enamored with the proposed changes slated to go into effect in July.
Few parents have contacted board members to say they're in favor of adding 10 minutes to the school day in order to dismiss classes an hour early once a week and to increase the number of early release days.
What will the board do?
To some degree, the board is being forced to act. Unless the board waives policy, it's supposed to adopt bell schedules for the upcoming school year by April 1.
Considering all the budget issues facing the district, Rosa Gill, school board chairwoman, said she'd favor delaying implementation of the additional planning time. This could mean the board saying it's a good idea but we'll hold off until 2010.
The response to the start time changes at 11 schools has been more balanced.
Not surprisingly, families at elementary schools on the second tier have complained to board members about possibly losing their 8:30 a.m. start times. For instance, board member Patti Head said she's heard from a lot of Sycamore Creek Elementary parents who don't want to start later at 9:15 a.m.
(Sycamore Creek could start later to allow York Elementary to begin arlier.)
Also in an online Eastern Wake News article, the PTA president at Wendell Elementary wasn't thrilled about being moved from 8:30 a.m. to the first tier to make way for the East Wake High students to start later.
But board members have also heard from parents happy about the prospect of moving from the third tier to the second tier.
UPDATE
Gill says she was referring to the changes at the 11 schools and not the changes to add more planning time.
Comments
down the rabbit hole....
Tue, 03/31/2009 - 12:31 — AngelaWwhile certainly not diminishing the "need"
they WON'T study the driving force of this school system, the the diversity policy, OR the wasteful spending of MYR but they will do this????
Wake Schools To Discuss Parking Policy
http://www.carynews.com/front/story/12116.html
Will Wake Schools Start Earlier?
Tue, 03/31/2009 - 12:01 — AngelaWhttp://www.wral.com/lifestyles/family/blogpost/4849915/
Angela thanks
Tue, 03/31/2009 - 12:10 — Chris_HThanks for the post and I totally agree but I doubt the BOE really cares at this point about how stressed our kids or we are......It really is very disheartening.
Mr. Hui, With your update
Tue, 03/31/2009 - 11:26 — Eric_BMr. Hui,
With your update you are saying that Ms. Gill stated she would favor delaying bell schedule changes at 11 schools until 2010-11 but would support adding the additional planning time for 2009-10??
How do either of these changes have any budgetary effects? It seems to me that swapping school bell schedules should be budget neutral and adding planning time should save a slight amount of money due to the net loss of 10 minutes of school time per week. (Not that I think that it is a good idea!)
Gill says she's ok with the
Tue, 03/31/2009 - 11:29 — KeungHui (author)Gill says she's ok with the changes of adding more planning time. But she says she's not for making the changes to the 11 schools this year. Even though she cited the budget, there doesn't seem to be a direct correlation financially with changing those 11 schools because we're not talking about adding more buses.
I can't believe it went through
Tue, 03/31/2009 - 11:57 — Chris_HSometimes I do not think they think these things through at all. I have a bad feeling about letting all these kids out an hour earlier once a week. Lots of impacts that have not been thought through.
Human nature
Tue, 03/31/2009 - 08:56 — supportwcpssWe've been over this so many times. Normally people don't call to compliment changes or to agree with people. They only call when they want to complain. To say few people have called to say they are in favor is an irrelevant comment.
In my opinion, if you don't call you accept the proposal. (Personally I don't agree with the 10 minute piece but do like the earlier start times for elementary. I wish our school started earlier).
I diagree with one point
Tue, 03/31/2009 - 11:25 — Chris_HSupport: I agree that few people do call to say they agree but I disagree that people not calling says they agree. First of all when it comes to human nature - people are lazy - they will gripe to their friends and neighbors but not actually call or speak up. Secondly many people are not even aware of the possible change.
Lastly I am glad they did not choose to change the already early Middle and High School times. They are way too early as it is. As far as early release - it seems teachers are not on board and any day but Friday seems stupid - what do the kids to for activities, clubs and sports - do they leave and come back, not have, what?
Consistency is the "key" word
Tue, 03/31/2009 - 08:37 — g88ky07And consistency is something we have nothing of in Wake County!
I think this idea is as ridiculous as MYR!
Come October 6th we're going to get "consistency, common sense and education" back on the right track!
Extra 10 minutes
Tue, 03/31/2009 - 07:47 — mommy59I think adding the extra 10 minutes a day is lots better then the early release.After the first 2 weeks of school people will get used to the new start times and not even notice.
When we lived in Ohio they changed the middle school times by 10 minutes.They did so that there was a homeroom time for attendance and announcements-no taking away from class time.
Constancy is the key word here!