tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8285353362748898720.post514967255548909105..comments2024-03-28T06:53:24.022-05:00Comments on a blog about school: School board adopts amended proposal for new school day and yearChrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12919030671050831251noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8285353362748898720.post-26358078473388728822015-05-26T18:03:13.653-05:002015-05-26T18:03:13.653-05:00We've had word that after school elementary ba...We've had word that after school elementary band will run from 4:15 to 5:15 pm next year.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13648521052030806343noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8285353362748898720.post-40813863631438547372015-05-13T09:51:24.394-05:002015-05-13T09:51:24.394-05:00As I understand it, the year will run from August ...As I understand it, the year will run from August 24 until May 25. Not sure where the Gazette got those dates.Chrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07559356125770114400noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8285353362748898720.post-86142419223300145282015-05-13T09:31:43.265-05:002015-05-13T09:31:43.265-05:00The P-C says the last day of school will be May 25...The P-C says the last day of school will be May 25.<br /><br />The Gazette says the year runs from Aug. 24 to May 29.<br /><br />(I wrote to both to point out the discrepancy.)<br /><br />Do you know which is correct?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8285353362748898720.post-67216079800250279822015-05-13T08:47:16.745-05:002015-05-13T08:47:16.745-05:00A few more thoughts:
First, I really don't ge...A few more thoughts:<br /><br />First, I really don't get why they don't just call this a budget cut and put the blame on the state where (I think) it belongs. This business about desperately needing what comes out to about 40 more elementary school hours is just insulting to people's intelligence. It's even worse if they really believe it.<br /><br />Second, just think how hungry those elementary school kids are going to be when they get home (at 4:00 or later!). Really, something has to be done about the 15-minute lunch, and now the district has that much less of an excuse for doing nothing about it.<br /><br />Third, this morning, we're hearing from a lot of people who are going to find it hard to get their kids to school at 8:45 and still get in to work on time. Again, if this is all driven by lack of funding, I can accept that there are limited options. But to make a change like this on four days notice to the community is a disaster. And more like four seconds notice about the 8:45 start. Even if the options are all awful, it just makes sense to have much more opportunity for public comment before making a change -- if only so you can know the full implications of what the choices are. The district really blew it with that.Chrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07559356125770114400noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8285353362748898720.post-60496289686266219182015-05-13T05:27:33.065-05:002015-05-13T05:27:33.065-05:00I really feel that between this and the new zoning...I really feel that between this and the new zoning this school board doesn't have the student's interests as a priority, the amount of unnecessary time spent in route to and from school and the times these kids will need to wake up are going to be ridiculous.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8285353362748898720.post-70693779651817994932015-05-13T00:15:47.189-05:002015-05-13T00:15:47.189-05:00Mary -- Great questions. I would be all in favor ...Mary -- Great questions. I would be all in favor of devoting the entire additional half hour to recess (which <a href="https://www.educateiowa.gov/sites/files/ed/documents/2014-04-01InstructionalHoursVsDaysGuidance.pdf" rel="nofollow">does count</a> as instructional time under state rules). Even better, I wish the district would use some of that time to make elementary school lunch longer than a measly fifteen minutes, though I understand that any increase in lunch would not count toward the state's 1080-hour requirement. (From the superintendent's numbers this evening, I gather that they are still giving only fifteen minutes, not twenty.)<br /><br />However, from the way the superintendent was talking, I do not believe they plan to use any of the time in that way. It sounds like the plan is 30 more minutes of class time, regardless of whether that's actually educationally sound or developmentally appropriate.Chrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07559356125770114400noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8285353362748898720.post-52670589441244789732015-05-13T00:06:27.430-05:002015-05-13T00:06:27.430-05:00I did not go to or see the meeting. If elementary ...I did not go to or see the meeting. If elementary schoolers are going to get “more time on task,” then does the board have a plan for curriculum changes (e.g. in addition to helping those students who need additional support, is it going to add more enriched programming for students who are capable of it so they are not just waiting for the day to end)? Also, I know from raising kids that many students perform better when they are not given "more time on task." Will schools add more time for kids to physically move around so it is easier for the kids to pay attention when they do have to sit down?Mary Murphynoreply@blogger.com