C. J. Huff: Two weeks less school will be a positive thing

In documentation provided for tonight's Joplin R-8 Board of Education meeting, Superintendent C. J. Huff acknowledges that school will start later than usual due to the construction of Joplin High School/Franklin Tech.

Thanks to the changes being recommended by administration students will have two weeks less of school this year than usual. To meet state requirements that students attend school 174 days a year, 10 minutes will be added to each school day.

Apparently, no one considered that the elementary and middle school are all built. Why cut two weeks of learning for those students?

This is the report that Huff will submit to the board tonight:

ACTION ITEM

Subject: Establishing Joplin Schools 2014-15 Calendar

Pertinent Facts

1. The district's Calendar Committee has met to discuss the school calendar for the 2014-2015 school year. The committee was made up of both certified and classified staff members representing the elementary, middle, and high schools.

2. The committee use past calendars and priorities as a guide for breaks and holidays. JHS construction deadlines and the potential graduation date and summer school date also contributed to guide our decisions for the proposed calendar.

3. Although the proposed calendar originated out of the need to meet our special circumstances for the coming year, we anticipate positive potential benefits from the new calendar.

4. The proposed calendar for the 2014-2015 school year is attached.

6. The proposed calendar meets the number of days and hours as required by Missouri state law.

Note: Some changes made to 2014/2-15 Calendar different from prior years:

Traditional- 174 student days
14/15- 164 student days

Traditional- 180 teacher contract days
14/15- 176 teacher contract days

Traditional- Three full day Professional Development days and PD offered on 1/2 days or after school
14/15- Ten total all day PD days throughout the year

Traditional- 7:45-2:45 Elementary 8:30 to 3:30 Secondary
14/15- 7:45 to 2:55 Elementary, 8:30 to 3:40 Secondary

Main Pros

1. Having six total PD days at the start of the year vs. a traditional two or three PD days, allows teachers, the schools, and the district to have more time to prepare for a successful year at its start- this year these days also allow more time for moving into the new high school.

2. The 164-day schedule will result in finishing the school year on May 15th which allows us to hold graduation ceremonies at a traditional time and allows us to build in additional potential snow days, which reduces the likelihood of finishing the school year in June or impacting summer school.

3. The six PD days at the start of the year and the four additional PD days throughout the school year increase the chances teachers will have better focused, reflective PD as well as a fewer days out of classroom for PD functions, as full PD days will be built into the calendar as opposed to doing PD after a full day of school.

4. Cost savings to district due to the ten fewer operation days for certified staff and operations.

Main Cons

 1. Reduced workdays for certified staff- this calendar would reflect 10 fewer workdays for many classified staff.

2. Adding 10 minutes per instructional day equates to a loss of roughly five current school days as measured in instructional minutes.

Fiscal Note

The Joplin Schools proposed 2014-2015 school calendar anticipates a cost decrease to the district compares to the current calendar.

Recommendation

The administration recommends the Board of Education adopt the Calendar Committee's recommendations for the 2014-2015 school calendar.

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