School board tables hybrid 4-day school calendar
Tue, 01/21/2025 - 4:23pm
admin
By:
Amanda Mendez, publisher
A proposed school year calendar including a hybrid of 4-day weeks was met with a barrage of questions and concerns at the January meeting of the Willow Springs Board of Education. On the agenda for both discussion and action, the school board could have passed the calendar last Monday night. The board ultimately tabled it, directing Superintendent Dr. Marty Spence to seek public comment on the proposed changes to the calendar.
The calendar was on the agenda prior to any formal gathering of public comment or community input. Dr. Spence mentioned during his presentation that he had informally gathered input from the school administration, staff, and members of the board.
Later, as the board discussed, school board member Matt Hobson noted, “This is the first time this has come to the board, and there is not a consensus. This is coming from the administration.”
After hearing from Dr. Spence that there had been no period of public comment, Hobson said, “As a board member, I need to hear from the public.”
A special session has been scheduled for Monday, Jan. 27 to review the results of a community survey that is live until Jan. 23 and available on the school’s website. The survey results will be public, and broken down by demographic.
The calendar, as presented, has 4-day weeks most of the time, but a 5-day week the last week of the month. The school day would extend to 7:45 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. under the proposal. Students would be in school 147 days, for a total of 1,073 hours. Under the traditional calendar, students are in school 161 days, and 1,089 hours. DESE requires 1,044 hours.
In support of the hybrid schedule, Dr. Spence said, “At the end of the day, the best thing for kids is to have the best teacher.”
His research indicates that a switch to primarily 4-day weeks could attract and retain the best teaching talent. Dr. Spence also mentioned a positive financial impact- the hybrid schedule could save $100,000 per year by operating 14 fewer days in the year.
Drawbacks discussed included social factors. Both Spence and the board expressed concern over the students who rely on school days for a safe, warm place to go where they can be sure of a meal. As it is, the school currently sends home 85-100 care packages of weekend food for these students, mentioned board member Adam Webb.
Board member Brent Colley brought up the block schedule saying, “A block schedule is wrong for a 4-day week.”
Board president Mac Gum suggested getting input on the calendar and moved along in the agenda.
In the public comment period of the meeting, former school board president Tony Friga said putting the calendar on the agenda for both discussion and a vote was, “back door politics,” and “really unacceptable.”
In response to follow-up questions, Dr. Spence told the News, “I wanted to make sure the board had the option to take action, if they desired. There are numerous times that we have tabled items for action for further discussion…The hybrid calendar has been in place in neighboring districts for a few years now with positive results, and it made sense for Willow to see if it was a fit for our district and community.”
In other action:
>At a motion from Matt Hobson, seconded by Adam Webb, the board unanimously passed the FY24 Audit, after hearing from Auditor Kenny Thomas. For more on that story, see page XXX
>As part of the consent agenda, the board approved a resignation from Susan James, high school math. They approved a paraprofessional hire -- Natalya Kharitonova, and the following substitute teachers: Donivan Owens, Sylvia McClellan, Amanda Lawson, Makayla Thornton, and Frankie Harris.
In other discussion:
>Amanda Mendez of Howell County News addressed the board concerning the publishing of the FY24 audit and Sunshine Laws.
>The board discussed moving school board retreats back on campus and back on camera. The board expressed a favorable intention to do so, without a formal vote.
>The board withdrew into closed session for student discipline issues.