Richmond County school officials have crafted an "optional" or "alternative" calendar for next school year that factors in three fewer class days in case more furloughs become necessary.
"We're trying to be proactive," said Missoura Ashe, the executive director for the county's elementary schools, who was involved with the calendar.
For now, the standing 2010-11 calendar -- which was approved by the board earlier this school year -- has the normal 180 days of state-required class time. But an optional calendar with three fewer days, officials say, could serve as a backup. It would still offer students the equivalent hours of 180 days of instructional time.
The optional calendar would need the board's approval and could be discussed at tonight's school board meeting, along with talk of a new superintendent search.
The substitute calendar lists Nov. 22 and 23 -- extending the Thanksgiving break to a full week -- and Feb. 21 as potential off days.
This school year, Richmond County teachers have already had their pay cut the equivalent of five furlough days. Board members say they expect to hear tonight from Superintendent Dana Bedden about a recommendation for a fifth off day for teachers, who have had only four days off this school year. Officials are also trying to determine whether three more furlough days can be avoided before the school year ends.
The optional calendar was tabled at last week's board committee meetings because members wanted to first hear the results of an in-house energy study, which should show the savings of some other calendar options.
Board Vice President Alex Howard said he's hoping the study will show how much savings there might be from adding 15 minutes to the end of each school day and ending the school year a week or two early. He said he also would like to learn how much energy costs at the beginning of the school year compared with other months. He said that's important because the school year starts in early August and starting a few weeks later might reduce cooling costs.
Howard said discussion of the calendar issue tonight will depend on whether the energy study has been completed.
Howard said the board will most likely discuss a timeline for finding a new superintendent to replace Bedden, who last week accepted a superintendent's post in Irving, Texas. Some board members have said they would like to have a superintendent in place by the end of July.
fifteen extra minutes will not add to a childs education. might as well increase to an extra hour so that another subject can be taught. fifteen extra minutes would only be enough time to add a minute to each class change for high schools and recess for the rest.
I do agree with a shorter year. I also believe taxpayers could save money by eliminating summer school. If a child fails to get promoted then he/she should repeat the grade. That in it self is a valuble lesson. We should go back to the time of teaching our children that there are no freebies and you have to work hard and make the grade.
Missoura Ashe's proposal sounds like re-arranging deck chairs on the Titanic. Shortening the school year by three days does nothing about the budget nor about education. It's all for show.
If they want to get serious about saving money, they need to go to the four-day school week, Tuesday through Friday.
lets see..none of the traditional high schools made ayp so to remedy the situation have fewer school days..yeah that's real proactive thinking. how about following the actions of the kansas city school board and CLOSE SOME SCHOOLS!!!!!!!!
I have a comment concerning the four-day work week. Everybody talks about how it will save money for the school district, the teachers would keep the same pay, and the students will have equivalent classroom time. However, has there been any consideration as to how this would impact custodians, bus drivers, and lunchroom workers? I think their pay is part of the cost the school district is trying to save. If they work four days instead of five, doesn't that mean they will be paid for four days instead of five? That's 20% less. As a teacher I would be quite angry about a salary cut like that. There would be huge problems also with the bus situation. We could count on a large turnover, which would only cause more confusion on the routes. While it is good in theory, I think the four-day week could potentially cause more harm than good because of the impact it would have on hourly workers.
Thank you for responding, Clyde. You are correct that salaried and contract employees will keep the same pay. But the whole goal of the four-day school week is to reduce costs not associated with education while delivering the essential educational services. Yes, bus drivers, lunchroom personnel and some maintenance personnel will have reduced pay under the four-day school week. That is the design of the four-day week. Bus drivers will work fewer hours. Lunchroom personnel will work fewer hours. Custodial personnel will work fewer hours. Therefore, they should receive less pay.
Big savings also come from reduced diesel fuel for the busses, reduced electricity and gas costs for lighting, heating and cooling the buildings, reduced utility costs for cooking breakfasts and lunches because they won't have to be cooked on Mondays, and reduced costs on the food that will not have to be served on Mondays. We also learned from the experience at Peach County that the costs for substitute teachers dropped substantially when schools were closed on Mondays.
Now, regarding your concern about the impact on hourly workers; let us remember that we are providing free public education for the benefit of the students, not for the hourly workers. It is time for all of us to tighten our belts, workers along with taxpayers.
Go to block scheduling--1 1/2 hours classes every other day. That would be a start. OOPS! Athletics/band will never let that float! Hmmm, "Augusta, you have a mess on your hands!"
Little Lamb - Your comments were very helpful. My concern is that students need bus drivers to get them to school. There will be a constant shift in drivers because they will only be in that position until another one comes up. It is difficult enough to keep up with the ever-changing routes. In spite of the financial mess in the educational system, I still have a difficult time accepting the fact that hourly workers will lose so much pay. We will all be making less, but not to that extent. We are trying to do the best we can to take care of the students and teachers, but we are losing sight of those who are so vital to our everyday life in the schools.
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