DISCUSSION/ACTION 3.0 Office of the Superintendent of Schools MONTGOMERY COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS Rockville, Maryland.

Transcription

1 DISCUSSION/ACTION 3.0 Office of the Superintendent of Schools MONTGOMERY COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS Rockville, Maryland December 12, 2006 MEMORANDUM To: From: Members of the Board of Education Jerry D. Weast, Superintendent of Schools Subject: School Calendar for I recommend adoption of the attached calendar for the school year (Attachments A and B). The recommended school calendar allows for the effective use of time and provides the maximum number of instructional days prior to the Maryland School Assessments and appropriate opportunities for planning instructional strategies focused on improving student achievement. The school calendar is based on 184 instructional days for students (four more than the minimum required by the state) and 193 duty days for teachers no change from the current school year. The flexible professional time for teachers in the Negotiated Agreement with the Montgomery County Education Association (MCEA) remains unchanged at two days. The contingency plan, indicating when days will be made up if the number of emergency closings exceeds four days, also is attached (Attachment C). Key stakeholders were involved in the development of the school calendar. They included the leadership of the Montgomery County Council of Parent Teacher Associations; other community leadership; MCEA; the Montgomery County Association of Administrative and Supervisory Personnel (MCAASP); SEIU Local 500; and the Maryland Association of Student Councils Montgomery County Region. Over the last several years, many changes regarding the school calendar have occurred as a result of stakeholder input. Staff from the Office of the Chief Operating Officer has used a review process and a calendar work group that involved parents, community members, employee organizations, and other school system leadership to solicit input on drafting the proposed calendar. In 1999, the Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) had 13 early release days at the elementary and middle school levels and 11 days at the high school level. In response to stakeholder input, the number of early release days has been reduced to 4 days at the elementary and middle school levels and 2 days at the high school level. In addition, every effort has been made to place professional days on Mondays and Fridays a more family-friendly arrangement. Nonetheless, during discussions with stakeholders, a number of issues or questions were raised.

2 Members of the Board of Education 2 December 12, 2006 The concerns include the following: Start the school year after Labor Day. While some parents continue to request that MCPS start school after Labor Day, most stakeholders have come to accept the August start date and appreciate the earlier last day of school in June. Some parents requested that Monday, August 27, 2007, be the designated orientation day for elementary schools. This would make the first day for students August 28 and, consequently, the last day for students Friday, June 13, The professional day for teachers would then be moved to the following week, Monday, June 16, In addition, the first day of the contingency calendar would be moved to Monday of the following week. It is preferable to have one or two days of the contingency calendar for make-up days during the final week of school. Parents expressed interest in having all non-school days occur on a Monday or Friday. The proposed calendar accommodates that request with the exception of o Rosh Hashanah on Thursday, September 13, 2007; o report card day for first marking period on Thursday, November 1, 2007; and o presidential primary election day on Tuesday, March 4, Two of these dates are beyond our control, and the report card day for the first marking period cannot be moved to Friday, November 2, 2007, without consequences. Data processing staff requires a day (Friday) after grades are due to contact schools for incomplete data. The report card production cycle includes scanning 46,000 elementary school paper grade (bubble) sheets to convert the paper grades into electronic format, and importing 77,000 secondary school grades from the electronic grade book for processing. Once all grades have been submitted, the printing schedule (using two high-speed printers operating at 180 pages per minute) requires one day to print the elementary school report cards and two days to produce the secondary school report cards and complete quality control checks. Together, nearly 600,000 images are printed to produce the report cards. Therefore, the weekend is needed for report cards to be ready for Grades K 8 parent conferences the following week. Staff will revisit these time requirements for the school year, as technology processes are undergoing changes. Staff is prepared to discuss the issues raised and answer Board of Education member questions during today s discussion. The designated professional days/time will be used by teachers to concentrate on specific activities related to the achievement of their students and the teaching and learning process. The 16 hours of professional time provide flexibility to meet the needs of school staff and individual teams and departments. The schedule for these 16 hours will involve work after the normal

3 Members of the Board of Education 3 December 12, 2006 school day, on weekends, or on other days not scheduled as duty days for teachers, including additional preservice time. The professional days at the end of each marking period November 1, 2007, January 22, 2008, and April 7, 2008 will be non-school days to be used for report card preparation, planning, and professional development. The only early release days on the calendar are for grade preparation (one early release day in each semester) and parent conferences in November in elementary and middle schools. The following considerations are included in the recommended school year calendar: School beginning on Monday, August 27, 2007, before Labor Day, which falls on Monday, September 3, 2007, and beginning the school year with a full week of instruction A student year of 184 instructional days, including 4 contingency days A teacher year of 193 duty days plus 16 hours of flexible professional time Nine professional days with no school for students five preservice days beginning Monday, August 20, 2007; three days for report card preparation/planning on Thursday, November 1, 2007, Tuesday, January 22, 2008, and Monday, April 7, 2008; and the last day of the school year for teachers on Friday, June 13, 2008 Non-school day for Rosh Hashanah on Thursday, September 13, 2007 (Yom Kippur is on Saturday, September 22, 2007) Friday, October 19, 2007 Maryland State Teachers Association Convention and MCAASP fall conference no school for teachers/students Spring break after Easter, which falls on Sunday, March 23, 2008 Thirteen holidays, including the presidential primary election day The last day for students on Thursday, June 12, 2008 Please refer to the School Contingency Calendar for which identifies when days will be made up if we exceed four days of emergency closings (Attachment C). Present at the Board table for today s discussion are Mr. Larry A. Bowers, chief operating officer; Dr. Frieda K. Lacey, deputy superintendent of schools; and Mr. Donald H. Kress, chief school performance officer.

4 Members of the Board of Education 4 December 12, 2006 Recommended Resolution WHEREAS, The establishment of school terms by the Board of Education is required by state law; and WHEREAS, The Montgomery County Public Schools parents, community members, and staff should be informed of the Board-adopted school calendar each year and the subsequent contingency plan identifying days that will be used to make up lost instructional time due to emergency closings; now therefore be it Resolved, That the proposed calendar and contingency plan for the Montgomery County Public Schools for the school year be adopted. JDW:LAB:vnb Attachments

5 2007 School Calendar for Wednesday, July 4 Holiday Independence Day ATTACHMENT A 12/12/06 August 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 Monday, August 27 Professional days for teachers First day of school for students Monday, September 3 Holiday Labor Day Thursday, September 13 Friday, October 19 Thursday, November 1 Rosh Hashanah No school for students and teachers (Note: Yom Kippur is Saturday, September 22) MSTA Convention no school for students and teachers MCAASP Fall Conference Professional day for teachers no school for students report card preparation/planning and duty day for identified 10-month employees for professional development activities Thurs./Fri. November 22 and 23 Holidays Thanksgiving Mon./Tues., December 24 and 25 Holiday December 26, 27, 28, and 31 Christmas Winter break no school for students and teachers 2008 Tuesday, January 1 Holiday New Year s Day Monday, January 21 Holiday Martin Luther King, Jr., Day Tuesday, January 22 Professional day for teachers (some 10-month employees work) no school for students Monday, February 18 Holiday Presidents Day Tuesday, March 4 Holiday Presidential Primary Election Day Friday, March 21 and Monday, March 24 March 25, 26, 27, 28 Monday, April 7 Holidays Easter (Note: Passover begins Sunday, April 20) Spring break no school for students and teachers Professional day for teachers no school for students Monday, May 26 Holiday Memorial Day Thursday, June 12 Friday, June 13 Last day of school for students Professional day for teachers

6 SCHOOL CALENDAR FOR FY 2008 Attachment B 2OO7 JULY ô OCTOBER ô AUGUST NOVEMBER ôô SEPTEMBER 1 2 ô ô DECEMBER ô24 ôôôô ô 2OO8 JANUARY ô ô APRIL FEBRUARY ô MAY ô MARCH ô ô ôô ôôô JUNE ô ô Holiday (13) No school for students and teachers (10) First and last day for students Professional day for all teachers and A&S (9)

7 ATTACHMENT C 12/12/06 SCHOOL CONTINGENCY CALENDAR If the school year should be disrupted by emergencies and schools are closed 5 days the school year will be extended by one day to June 13, 2008; 6 days the school year will be extended by two days to June 13 and 16, 2008; 7 days the school year will be extended by three days to June 13, 16, and 17, 2008; 8 days the school year will be extended by four days to June 13, 16, 17, and 18, 2008; and 9 days the school year will be extended by five days to June 13, 16, 17, 18, and 19, 2008.

8 ATTACHMENT C 12/12/06