I have always been a proponent of year round school. Our current school calendar was set up many years ago because so many families were in agriculture and the children helped out. But now comes Federal, State, Local and, yes, School District budget woes. Caddo seriously needs to cut back 20 - 30 million dollars. We must cut $20,000,000 this year.
Four day school weeks first came to my attention when my sister, Debbie, started teaching in Caldwell Parish. Caldwell is a small rural and rather poor district. But when I visited their district, there was an undeniable richness in the people there. Anyway, Debbie started teaching there the first year they had cut to 4 days. Yes, parents had to adjust. What were they going to do with their children when they are at work? Well, to tell you the truth, a large part of our society does not work just weekdays from 9-5. So what do they do? By the time the second year rolled around, no one, teachers, students and parents wanted to go back to the 5 day week.
But what about the academic side of this 4 day week? Well, Caddo piloted year round schools for several years and saw no difference is academic achievement. So the district decided to keep only one year round school. To tell the truth, Shreve Island would have shown the same achievement no matter how many days of school they had. It was the right combination of leadership, teachers, students and parents. You can't beat that and you can't stop them from achieving. After the budget meeting tonight, I came home and googled 4 day school week. Wow, I didn't expect to see so much written on this. I read the first 5 and decided to blog about it. First, to help me get my mind around it and then to get feedback from my readers who are parents, teachers and Caddo citizens. When I requested that staff consider this option, I got the usually dumb struck look from other board members. They are waiting to be told what we will do. Who are we to come up with an idea? Oh heaven help me. And I really mean that. So I know if I bring an idea, I will have to push it, if I think it is a worthy idea.
http://www.caddo.k12.la.us/boardmember-contact.cfm
Call and write your board members!!!!!!!!!!!
These are my initial reasons to consider the 4 day work week. When we start cutting, we will increase class sizes. We will cut music and band programs. Art programs will be cut. Educational trips will be eliminated. None of these ideas are good for student achievement. We have already closed schools and moved middle school students to high schools. I believe this will actually put our students' safety at risk and kill very good successful communities. I reject all of these ideas.
Of course my first response is to cut Central Office. Hopefully, that will be done. But it will not amount to 20 million dollars. The first article I read said that some school districts decided not to go to the 4 day week when they realized that they would only save 5%. Five percent of $350,000,000 is $17,500,000. Check my math, please. That is very exciting to me in this budget crisis. The Superintendent put it in writing tonight that it costs 1 million dollars a day to run our school system. So 17.5 million actually seems on the low side.
http://www.caddo.k12.la.us/boardmember-contact.cfm
From the feedback I received from talking to people in the systems that are on 4 day weeks and just reading the first 5 articles; this is the information I got about the academic impact of 4 day weeks.
1. Uncertain that it made any difference in the students' achievement.
2. School scores increased dramatically - because of these factors that make up the scores:
1. Lower absenteeism with students.
2. Lower absenteeism with faculty. Substitute hiring was cut in half--not just 1/5.
3. Graduation rates increased. Why? They didn't get so sick of school they dropped out.
4. Reduction in discipline problems. I guess one less day to act bad.
5. Students were more focused and there were less interruptions.
What do the students do on Monday when they are not in school?
1. Churches step up and offer tutorials. One local minister has already mentioned this to the board.
2. Students do community volunteering.
3. Older students work or do job training programs.
4. Younger children spend the day with grandparents. (I might have to rethink this.) Not really
5. Do what parents do with their children who don't just work weekdays and 8-3.
The bottom line is, we are going to have to change or cut somewhere. The Superintendent has already recommended increasing class sizes, cutting music, art, and extra curricular activities. Also freezing all employees' salaries. Our employees' salaries have already fallen behind our surrounding area. We will not be able to choose the best and the brightest teachers in this situation.
To tell you the truth, I don't like any changes or cuts. But let's get real. Someone is going to get hurt with this budget. Will all of Caddo share it? Or will it just be the children and the employees?
Below are 5 articles that I have read so far. I wonder what the other board members did tonight after the meeting?
Please post a comment. I really need your feedback.
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=124501288
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/06/04/national/main6548010.shtml
http://www.education.com/magazine/article/4-day-school-week/
http://marketplace.publicradio.org/display/web/2008/09/02/four_day_week/
http://weblogs.sun-sentinel.com/news/columnists/mayo/blog/2009/02/fourday_school_week_could_work.html
Four day school weeks first came to my attention when my sister, Debbie, started teaching in Caldwell Parish. Caldwell is a small rural and rather poor district. But when I visited their district, there was an undeniable richness in the people there. Anyway, Debbie started teaching there the first year they had cut to 4 days. Yes, parents had to adjust. What were they going to do with their children when they are at work? Well, to tell you the truth, a large part of our society does not work just weekdays from 9-5. So what do they do? By the time the second year rolled around, no one, teachers, students and parents wanted to go back to the 5 day week.
But what about the academic side of this 4 day week? Well, Caddo piloted year round schools for several years and saw no difference is academic achievement. So the district decided to keep only one year round school. To tell the truth, Shreve Island would have shown the same achievement no matter how many days of school they had. It was the right combination of leadership, teachers, students and parents. You can't beat that and you can't stop them from achieving. After the budget meeting tonight, I came home and googled 4 day school week. Wow, I didn't expect to see so much written on this. I read the first 5 and decided to blog about it. First, to help me get my mind around it and then to get feedback from my readers who are parents, teachers and Caddo citizens. When I requested that staff consider this option, I got the usually dumb struck look from other board members. They are waiting to be told what we will do. Who are we to come up with an idea? Oh heaven help me. And I really mean that. So I know if I bring an idea, I will have to push it, if I think it is a worthy idea.http://www.caddo.k12.la.us/boardmember-contact.cfm
Call and write your board members!!!!!!!!!!!
These are my initial reasons to consider the 4 day work week. When we start cutting, we will increase class sizes. We will cut music and band programs. Art programs will be cut. Educational trips will be eliminated. None of these ideas are good for student achievement. We have already closed schools and moved middle school students to high schools. I believe this will actually put our students' safety at risk and kill very good successful communities. I reject all of these ideas.Of course my first response is to cut Central Office. Hopefully, that will be done. But it will not amount to 20 million dollars. The first article I read said that some school districts decided not to go to the 4 day week when they realized that they would only save 5%. Five percent of $350,000,000 is $17,500,000. Check my math, please. That is very exciting to me in this budget crisis. The Superintendent put it in writing tonight that it costs 1 million dollars a day to run our school system. So 17.5 million actually seems on the low side.
http://www.caddo.k12.la.us/boardmember-contact.cfm
From the feedback I received from talking to people in the systems that are on 4 day weeks and just reading the first 5 articles; this is the information I got about the academic impact of 4 day weeks.
1. Uncertain that it made any difference in the students' achievement.
2. School scores increased dramatically - because of these factors that make up the scores:
1. Lower absenteeism with students.
2. Lower absenteeism with faculty. Substitute hiring was cut in half--not just 1/5.
3. Graduation rates increased. Why? They didn't get so sick of school they dropped out.
4. Reduction in discipline problems. I guess one less day to act bad.
5. Students were more focused and there were less interruptions.
What do the students do on Monday when they are not in school?
1. Churches step up and offer tutorials. One local minister has already mentioned this to the board.
2. Students do community volunteering.
3. Older students work or do job training programs.
4. Younger children spend the day with grandparents. (I might have to rethink this.) Not really
5. Do what parents do with their children who don't just work weekdays and 8-3.
The bottom line is, we are going to have to change or cut somewhere. The Superintendent has already recommended increasing class sizes, cutting music, art, and extra curricular activities. Also freezing all employees' salaries. Our employees' salaries have already fallen behind our surrounding area. We will not be able to choose the best and the brightest teachers in this situation.
To tell you the truth, I don't like any changes or cuts. But let's get real. Someone is going to get hurt with this budget. Will all of Caddo share it? Or will it just be the children and the employees?
Below are 5 articles that I have read so far. I wonder what the other board members did tonight after the meeting?
Please post a comment. I really need your feedback.
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=124501288
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/06/04/national/main6548010.shtml
http://www.education.com/magazine/article/4-day-school-week/
http://marketplace.publicradio.org/display/web/2008/09/02/four_day_week/
http://weblogs.sun-sentinel.com/news/columnists/mayo/blog/2009/02/fourday_school_week_could_work.html
Your logic is infallible! But- nothing around here is logical! The stories that I could tell you! I talk to my students about why they are so far behind and it boils down to basics. They did not want to and no one made them. They expect A's for F work and are just now understanding why I have been so tough on them. I have lost several to other schools- academic recovery! Students will learn if we hold them accountable and stop coddling and making excuses. There is no excuse for not applying yourself to the best of your ability. That goes for every person that works in this system. If you do not want to get dirty- get out of the dirt! You have to dig deep and work hard and be honest to find the real reason students are not learning and then you have to search - find- create- real solutions! All anyone has to do is ask the kids.
ReplyDeleteI think a four day week is the best choice for our children. As a teacher, I think it is imperative that we make every effort to provide a quality education for all students. Teachers should not be penalized through compensation, due to budget woes.
ReplyDelete"Thanks for the research link. 80)"
ReplyDeleteMs. Crawley:
ReplyDeleteYou might want to do two things. First call up the Department of Education at LSUS and ask the chair to ask the professors to research the articles on the effectiveness of a 4 day school week. You might not want to depend on what other people say when that might not be what the research says. Also with the research you will have more support for your suggestion. You can also get the information without paying for consultants.
Second, you might consider eliminating the Behavior Specialists and the system School Psychyologist (Barzanna White) positions from Central Office. They are redundent. You already employ school psychologists. By reorganizing you can place school psychologists under general education. The school psychologists already employed will continue to test for special education and they will also be able to do behavior/educational interventions (they were trained to do these ). That should help will decreasing the budget without decreasing the services.
Charlotte, this is an intriguing idea. It is worth looking at. It isn't as simple as so much per day, because 4-day school doesn't save a day's worth of expenses per week. Teachers and staff presumably still would get paid for a full year with four days, longer days, per week. The maintenance costs on schools would not be reduced by 20%. Perhaps there could be some staff reductions and savings. Keep on thinking.
ReplyDeleteWe ''ALL'' are going to have to work together to come up with solutions for this financial crisis without going backward. I am positive we can if we work together, however I don't see the Board working together if I judge this on their past actions.
ReplyDeleteThen we have to address at the same time the adverse actions coming out of Baton Rouge. I don't know if there is that much cooperation in the hearts of this Board.
Did Dawkins really ask for a raise with his new contract???? Really?
ReplyDelete4 day week is a great suggestion...esp compared to loosing programs and increasing class sizes!
FIGHT FOR US :)
I would love a 4 day work week!
ReplyDeleteMy sister-in-law teaches in an elementary school in Cameron Parish which was forced into a 4-day schoo week post Hurricane Rita. They have never gone back!
ReplyDeleteI so wish we could clone you for all our board seats!!! You, alone, represent what is best for parents, students, and teachers.
ReplyDeleteI like Jo Marie's answer PARENTS need to make sure their children study at home, all can not be done in one hour of school. You are right. I had 6 children in school at one time,but when they came home whether I was home or not they had homework, and they did it, this is very needed . Four day weeks look good to me and Grandma's should be willing to keep their grandchildren on Mondays. Charlottes make plans to use your three in your yard. I helped a young man in high school and he did not know his "Time tables" my children knew them in grammer school. My daughter Debbie said every child did not have a "Master Sargent" for a Mother.
ReplyDelete