Time Committee - Update
School Board Approved Time Committee's Recommendation:
Modified School Calendar for 2007-2008
One of the most difficult and persistent challenges that we face in educating our students is how to achieve true gains in academic achievement. There are many good ideas out there but there are very few ways to incorporate them effectively in the classroom. As the result of much thought and consideration I am pleased to announce that the School Board has approved a recommendation from the Time Committee to implement two-hour early release Fridays, (referred to as “Professional Growth Fridays” of “PGFs”) beginning the fall of 2007.
The District’s Time Committee - which consisted of teachers, principals, classroom support staff members, and parents - has met for the past three years to come up with a plan to create more time for professional development and collaboration for staff members during the school day. The goal of these discussions was to find a way to become more effective in teaching the subjects and skills that our students need to know. Beginning in 2004, our educators formed a committee to thoroughly study this problem, evaluate solutions and consider potential pitfalls each solution brought with it. The partnership also included the Snohomish Education Association, which provided crucial insight into how other learning communities around the state have dealt with important changes such as this.
This past April, the Committee presented three options to parents at two separate parent forums. The three options presented were: Monthly Non-Student Days, Early Release Fridays, or Late Start Mondays. Every family in the District was invited to attend these meetings, through postcards that were mailed to each home. Following these meetings, information was posted on the District Web site with an opportunity for parents to provide the District with feedback about which of the three options would best meet the needs of both the staff and families.
The majority of families and staff members preferred the early release Friday option, which has been successfully modeled at Cathcart Elementary for a number of years. As a result, this option was recommended to the School Board in April, and was approved on May 23rd.
What is the goal of Professional Growth Fridays?
The goal of Professional Growth Fridays is to provide staff members with regularly scheduled time, within their work week, to work together to improve student learning. The weekly time will be used for small and large group collaboration, for instructional planning, and for District / school in-service and training.
What kind of impact will this change have on the amount of time my student has in the classroom?
In addition to shortening the school day on Fridays by two hours, the District will also be adding ten minutes to each instructional day. Six half-day early release days have been eliminated from next year’s calendar, as has one non-student day. The result will be that the District will continue to have well over the 1,000 hours of state-required instruction time. Based on a 180 day school year, this will result in a gain of 2.8 instructional minutes a week.
The District also applied for and was granted two waiver days for the 2007-2008 school year only. These days will be used for staff trainings that require a full-day. The net result of this will be a loss of 18 minutes of instructional time each week for the 2007-2008 school year only.
What is the District doing to help students who need daycare or supervision on Fridays until the usual school-end time?
At the elementary level, the District is working with the Boys and Girls Club or the YMCA (dependent upon the elementary school), to develop programs for students during this two-hour early release time for those parents seeking a solution. At the secondary level, the District will hold a supervised study-hall for students who participate in after-school athletics or activities.
To view the Student Calendar for the 2007-2008 school year, click here.
We are grateful to the many parents who attended the Public Forums and/or provided input online. Your feedback was valuable to this decision.
You can expect routine updates from your building principal on the work that takes place in the buildings on Professional Growth Fridays.
We are all committed to taking full advantage of this time to improve teaching and learning throughout the District.
Please do not hesitate to contact our Communications Department if you have any questions, at: (360) 563-7263, or via e-mail at: communications@sno.wednet.edu.
Additional Information:
For more information about Professional Growth Fridays, click one of the links below:
2007-2008 Student Calendar (pdf)
Frequently Asked Questions about Professional Growth Fridays (pdf)
Half-Day Kindergarten Schedule (pdf)
Questions?
Call or e-mail Shannon
Parthemer at: 360-563-7263 or
communications@sno.wednet.edu