There was also time for a video update on construction at the new Joplin High School/Franklin Tech.
They even managed to squeeze in a showcase segment on Franklin Technology students.
What did not even end up taking one second in the tightly scripted infomercial that Joplin R-8 Board of Education meetings has become over the past few years, was a decision that will have more of an effect on district parents and students than any other that was made tonight.
Joplin students will lose two weeks of education during the 2014-1015 school year.
The start of the school year will be delayed until Monday, August 25, due to the construction at Joplin High School/Franklin Tech. So 10 days of school have been eliminated and 10 minutes added to each school day. Teachers will have four extra days of "professional development" time.
It might have been enlightening for those watching the board meeting on Jet 14 to have heard someone explain why the elementary and middle school students also had to miss two weeks of school when their buildings are all in working order.
No such discussion took place.
We could have heard why administration thinks that this could be something positive for the district, despite the fact that many classified employees will lose money over the decision.
Not one word was spoken.
The calendar was approved by a 7-0 vote of the old board (what else?) as part of the consent agenda.
It's time for these monthly dog-and-pony shows to end.
The documentation that the administration provided to the board can be found at this link.
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This collection of essays not only spells out what is wrong in American education, but also makes it clear what is right.
Let Teachers Teach, is a collection of Randy Turner's essays on today's education, his own teaching, and colleagues and students who have touched his life.
Also available at a reduced price, the novel that got Randy Turner fired, No Child Left Alive, an indictment of dysfunctional, illogical, and borderline illegal administrative leadership in American public schools.
9 comments:
Turner, do you not know how to use our language? Or is your headline for the benefit of your "informed" readers?
It is typical headline style. My informed readers have no problem understanding it. It is generally the smirking know-it-alls that have a problem with it. Better luck next time.
7:42--
The headline is what you see wrong here? Are you that dumb? That must be why you don't mind the kids getting two fewer weeks of school. Low expectations. You'll blend right in.
7:42 is arrogant and condescending. Must work for Central Office or be dependent upon their bloated salaries in order to survive. As is their usual method, if they can't defend themselves, they stoop to petty and insulting remarks. The public is tired of it. We want education back and the frivolous, wasteful Huff era to end. It's time to start over and get things right.
I guess if its not important for the kids to be at school then no one should be bothering me anymore with phone calls if mine stays home.
This calendar saves CJ a little money, but what it saves him costs the rest of us. That's a lot of time that some of us who don't make $165,000+ a year won't get paid for. What a jerk. Pretty sure he won't care how anyone feels though.
The new board should overturn this stupid decision. It's just more evidence that CJ Huff and the old Board cared more about image than academics. The new Board won't want that reputation.
Maybe we should all just make up our own calendars. If it's not important for the children to be there no one will mind if we all just stay home.
Gee, if they have a lot of snow days like they did this year the kids won't have to go much at all! And they wonder why the scores are low? It's because of ignorant ideas like this one. It's like Joplin just wants to lose.
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