The 2010-2011 school year may get a little shorter for the Jackson County School System.
Facing additional revenue cuts, the school system is expected to trim eight days for certified and classified employees, and four days for students for next year’s calendar.
County BOE to trim days from school calendar
The Jackson County Board of Education is slated to vote on the proposal on Monday, June 14, at 6 p.m.
The Jefferson City School System is considering adding 10 furlough days to its 2010-2011 calendar, while the Commerce City School shortened its year for teachers and students by 10 days.
For the Jackson County School System, the 176-day calendar for students will create an entire week of vacation for Thanksgiving and an additional day off for Christmas break.
“That will be widely popular — that Monday and Tuesday (off) for Thanksgiving,” said superintendent Shannon Adams at Tuesday’s board meeting.
The adjusted calendar will shift four student days to vacation days: Monday, Nov. 22; Tuesday, Nov. 23; Monday, May 23; and Tuesday, May 24.
And, four teacher work days will also be changed to vacation days: Friday, Oct. 8; Friday, Dec. 17; Tuesday, March 15; and Wednesday, May 25.
The eight-day reduction for certified and classified employees won’t affect bus drivers, paraprofessionals or food service workers.
They’ll have their schedules reduced by four days. Parapros already had their workload reduced by eight days in a previous budget cut.
The move, however, still leaves three days for teacher pre-planning at the start of the school year and two days of post-planning after students leave for the summer.
The 2010-2011 school year starts on Thursday, Aug. 5, and ends on Friday, May 20, for Jackson County School System students.
The revised calendar will also include early release days for elementary and middle school students on Wednesday and Thursday, Nov. 10-11, and Tuesday and Wednesday, Feb. 8-9. High school students won’t have early release days.
Inclement weather make-up days will be designated for the week of Spring Break — set for April 4-8. If those days are needed, it’ll mean a shorter vacation that week for students and teachers.
“Everybody would have to know upfront that’s a possibility, too,” said board chairperson Kathy Wilbanks.
And depending on revenue, the 2010-2011 school year calendar could be amended again, Adams warned.
However, the superintendent said he doesn’t favor shortening the school calendar and prolonging the instruction day for students – as some districts in Georgia are considering.
“That means a longer school day and I’m just against that,” he said.
With the revised calendar, the school system won’t trim its share of the local salary supplement by two percent next school year, Adams said.
Several school administrators at Tuesday’s board meeting said teachers favored the eight-day reduced calendar instead of salary cuts.
The board members also seemed to favor the proposal.
After next Monday’s vote, the revised school calendar is expected to be posted on the district’s website — www.jackson.k12.ga.us.
The Jefferson City School System is considering adding 10 furlough days to its 2010-2011 calendar, while the Commerce City School shortened its year for teachers and students by 10 days.
For the Jackson County School System, the 176-day calendar for students will create an entire week of vacation for Thanksgiving and an additional day off for Christmas break.
“That will be widely popular — that Monday and Tuesday (off) for Thanksgiving,” said superintendent Shannon Adams at Tuesday’s board meeting.
The adjusted calendar will shift four student days to vacation days: Monday, Nov. 22; Tuesday, Nov. 23; Monday, May 23; and Tuesday, May 24.
And, four teacher work days will also be changed to vacation days: Friday, Oct. 8; Friday, Dec. 17; Tuesday, March 15; and Wednesday, May 25.
The eight-day reduction for certified and classified employees won’t affect bus drivers, paraprofessionals or food service workers.
They’ll have their schedules reduced by four days. Parapros already had their workload reduced by eight days in a previous budget cut.
The move, however, still leaves three days for teacher pre-planning at the start of the school year and two days of post-planning after students leave for the summer.
The 2010-2011 school year starts on Thursday, Aug. 5, and ends on Friday, May 20, for Jackson County School System students.
The revised calendar will also include early release days for elementary and middle school students on Wednesday and Thursday, Nov. 10-11, and Tuesday and Wednesday, Feb. 8-9. High school students won’t have early release days.
Inclement weather make-up days will be designated for the week of Spring Break — set for April 4-8. If those days are needed, it’ll mean a shorter vacation that week for students and teachers.
“Everybody would have to know upfront that’s a possibility, too,” said board chairperson Kathy Wilbanks.
And depending on revenue, the 2010-2011 school year calendar could be amended again, Adams warned.
However, the superintendent said he doesn’t favor shortening the school calendar and prolonging the instruction day for students – as some districts in Georgia are considering.
“That means a longer school day and I’m just against that,” he said.
With the revised calendar, the school system won’t trim its share of the local salary supplement by two percent next school year, Adams said.
Several school administrators at Tuesday’s board meeting said teachers favored the eight-day reduced calendar instead of salary cuts.
The board members also seemed to favor the proposal.
After next Monday’s vote, the revised school calendar is expected to be posted on the district’s website — www.jackson.k12.ga.us.
Defined tags for this entry: BOE
Do you not understand the importance of teachers? Doesn't sound like it.
Just for the record; What is the salary for a teacher working 9 months out of the year?
There is an upside to all of this, the kids will have three extra days to sit around playing video games.
By the way, we do work 10 months (not 9). Our yearly salary is divided over the year and is spread out so that we are paid during the summer. Would you rather send the kids to school year round or just have us go into work each day and work in our rooms or have meetings? That would be an increase in power bills for lights, heat/air, etc. I can imagine the public response if kids were not given the summer off. Also, I'll remind you too that during the summer months, teachers are required to go to classes, workshops, meetings, etc. I spend some time each day working on planning for next year. The job doesn't end just because it is summer.
Again, as a teacher and with the budget cuts, I am very glad to have a job. I'll take the furloughs and salary cuts because I don't have a choice. I may complain when I can't do extra things for my own kids and complain some when I'm out this summer buying all the supplies that I will need for my classroom because of no supply money this year. I do this because I love my job and feel that I can make a difference with the kids that I teach.