Nothing like waiting until the last minute, but C. J. Huff has a Plan B just in case Joplin High School is not ready for its planned Monday, August 25, opening.
The plan was presented to the Joplin R-8 Board of Education earlier tonight by High School Principal Kerry Sachetta and Executive Director of High School Instruction Jason Cravens and would affect only the high school, Huff said. All elementary and middle schools will start as planned next Monday.
Huff said he fully expects the high school and Franklin Tech to open as planned, but the plan outlined by Sachetta and Cravens would delay starting until Tuesday, September 2, the day after Labor Day. As planned, 10 minutes would be added to each school day.
Under the plan, teachers would have to have two extra days of professional development training next week and students would have classes on Friday, October, 24, the day after parent-teacher conference, plus Monday, December 22, and Tuesday, December 23, which would be a half-day.
Board member Debbie Fort asked if faculty leaders had been included in the planning process.
Sachetta said, "This will be the first they have heard of it."
Huff, emphasizing that it may not even happen, said, "It may be a moot point. We may be in there by the 25th. We have been working on this for the last 48 hours."
The lateness of Plan B came even though Huff also said tonight, "We always knew it was coming down to the wire.
"We'll talk to the faculty tomorrow."
What a mess ! Did anyone consider not moving from the mall until the new building was ready ? Now due to poor planning Huffs admin plan to ruin Christmas break for the staff and the children. Family visits and vacation plans ruined ? So much for kids with perfect attendance.
ReplyDeleteWhy can't they just pick a couple of random Saturday's to make up the days ?
Wouldn't it be simpler and easier on everyone if all the schools started September 3 and extended the school year accordingly? Back in the "olden days," we had a half day the Friday before Labor Day and started on the following Tuesday. Yes, we got out a little later in the spring but, since we are generally still cool-ish in late May, we didn't feel like it took away from our summertime fun. I realize that it would probably require changing the start dates for summer school, but oh well. I think they need to think this out again!
ReplyDeleteHad this call been made last spring when even a fool could see that building wouldn't be finished in time, our kids would have been in school on time. This is on CJ Huff and no one else. This is what vanity gets you.
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