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Before I jump into things, it is important to note that teacher professional development is VERY important to the overall academic success of the district. Additionally, one of the most consistently discussed topics is the school calendar.  Since so many different groups – teachers, staff, parents, and administrators – are impacted by the decision, it is unlikely that any calendar the board approves will please every group.At the school board meeting on August 24th, three proposals for school calendars were presented. These proposals included different options for professional development. The options ranged from continuing with the current schedule of four half days to having shorter professional development sessions that occur more often throughout the school year. The school calendar itself, with the exception of the professional development plan, was approved by the board at the meeting on September 14th.

The September 28th board meeting included further discussion about the professional development options. The prevailing option at this time is to implement the third professional development plan from the link below. Since the presented slideshow is not currently in board docs, I will be referencing the details as presented on August 24th.  This is a plan that will shift the student start time 20 minutes later every Tuesday of the school year (the actual day is not entirely set in stone though) and shift the teacher start time 25 minutes earlier on PD days. The additional 45 minutes set aside for teachers before the school day starts will allow for a consistent professional development experience throughout the year. There are 37 Tuesdays on the calendar and only 31 will include PD time. The remaining 6 Tuesdays are left as late arrival days as an attempt to maintain consistency for families.

Prior to the adoption of four half days for PD, grades K-8 had seven one-hour late arrivals each year, and grades 9-12 had 12 one-hour late arrivals – a very similar plan to what the administration wants to implement beginning in 2017.

In 2013 a survey was sent out by the school board asking how parents and educators felt about this exact issue, and the results were overwhelmingly in favor for half-days instead of late starts for PD days.  Over 77% of parents and nearly 88% of teachers preferred half days over late starts.  These are by no means outdated opinions a majority of these parents and teachers are most likely still in the school district.  Before the school board votes to approve the change, it needs to answer the question many parents and teachers are asking:  “Why is there a change to the unpopular option so soon after getting the results from just three years ago?”

The best learning environment for teachers needs to be weighed carefully against the constant schedule disruption to the lives of the students, and the potential for increased child care costs that will be borne by the parents.

The school board will be voting on the professional development schedule in the next few weeks.  Once the agenda is posted for the next board meeting on Wednesday, October 12, I will post it and a brief summary of what will be discussed.

School Board meetings are scheduled for the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of each month at 7pm in the HSE Administration Center –  13485 Cumberland Road.

Links:

Approved Calendar: http://www.boarddocs.com/in/hses/Board.nsf/files/ADSRJF6BCDCC/$file/2017-2018%20Calendar%208-19-16%20version3.pdf

Proposed Calendar options including explanations for the professional development proposals: http://www.boarddocs.com/in/hses/Board.nsf/files/AD5UGU7C09B8/$file/School%20Board%20Presentation%20201718%20Calendar%20Options%20082416.pdf

Board Meeting Citing Pre-2013 Policy:

http://www.boarddocs.com/in/hses/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=94WLHF566100

Survey from 2013 on similar half day discussion:

http://www.boarddocs.com/in/hses/Board.nsf/files/9AER5C6C0B89/$file/Half%20Day%20proposal..pdf