Early release day, new start times for Pinellas students

While most of the discussion at last night’s Pinellas School Board meeting concerned the impact of an “early release day” on Wednesdays to give teachers dedicated planning time, the board also approved new start times for middle and elementary schools.

(Contrary to what we reported in today’s paper, there will be no change to high school start times; that information appeared on an early version of the agenda that changed just as board members were taking their seats at the table. No one thought to inform us of the change.)

All middle schools, with the exception of the fundamentals, will open at 9:30 a.m. That’s 8 minutes earlier than this year’s start time.

All elementary schools except for the fundamentals and two others – Cross Bayou and Walsingham – will open at 8:35 a.m., a shift of 5 to 15 minutes for most of them. But for 10 schools, the start time will be pushed back an hour and 10 minutes.

Those schools, which currently open at 7:45, are: Azalea, Belleair, Fuguitt, High Point, McMullen-Booth, Pinellas Park, Ridgecrest, Shore Acres, Skycrest and Starkey.

Deputy superintendent Harry Brown said the changes are being made to save transportation costs. The district hopes to eliminate as many as 100 bus routes next year, Brown said.

For parents still confused about the “early release day” -- and who could blame them? -- here's what will happen in a nutshell.

On Wednesdays, students at all schools will be released one hour and 15 minutes earlier than on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. An extra 15 minutes will be added to those four days to make up the difference.

What that means is that elementary schools, except for Cross Bayou, Walsingham, and the fundamentals, will let out at 1:35 p.m. on Wednesdays. On the other four days, the day will end at 2:50 p.m.

Middle schools, with the exception of the fundamentals, will let out at 3 p.m. on Wednesdays and at 4:15 p.m. on the other four days.

For high schoolers, the day will end at 12:35 p.m. on Wednesdays and at 1:50 p.m. on the other four days.

For the full list of start and end times, as well as the times school will end on “early release Wednesdays,” go to the school district's Web site. 

Some parents are still debating last night's meeting over at our parenting blog Whoa, Momma! You can join the debate here

Comments

[Lisa]

Kathy, I agree, just because the schedule was approved on Tuesday only a few minutes ahead of voting, it still was not properly posted ahead of time and once again it looked to be done very intentionally. The two speakers who did show up were asked to be moved ahead of voting due to all the changes and confusion, and they still hesitated and questioned if they should speak ahead of voting.

[Kathy]

To the poster of "I hope your child is getting a better education than you. You have no grammar skills. One example is your spelling of a lot. It is 2 words."

Posted by: kathy is dumb | May 28, 2009 at 06:50 AM

At least I have no problem posting my own name and standing behind my position (rather than hiding behind anonymous posts)....I wasn't writing a grammar report or checking it for typos...I was just stating my opinion....and at least I am smart enough to Capitalize a proper name!...and if we are going to have a grammar lesson:

Spell out single-digit whole numbers. Use numerals for numbers greater than nine.

You should have written "It is two words."

I guess you have too much time on your hands to correct everyone's (or should that be everyones or every ones---I personally don't care because the reader can tell what point I am trying to make) grammar...rather than reading to see the community opinions on the subject at hand. Maybe you should join a English grammar blog where you would feel more comfortable!

[!]

Every action the school district administration takes either builds public trust or destroys it.

Either the school district wants to be the center of the community or they do not.

Personally, before I make something the center of my life, I have to trust in it.

[Kathy]

I wrote to the School Board about the lack of notice and after a few back and forth emails...I was told matter of factly...that "The schedule was properly approved by Board action on Tuesday and is final. The agenda put the public on notice that the schedule would be recommended, discussed, and acted on at the meeting. Agenda items are frequently changed at the instance of the Superintendent or on motion of a Board member. That is part of the normal process and is to be expected". by Jim Robinson, General Counsel for Pinellas County Schools....My response "Mr. Robinson,

With all due respect...posting a agenda and burying info that would affect a family (students and parents) on page 122 of 300 pages...along w/a ton of general administrative issues that you know parents don't care about...is not notifying the public (at least not openly, honestly, ethically, or CORRECTLY)...your communications head should have made sure that every school was notified of their proposed daily changes--through, principal, PTA, SAC and any other group organizations at each school---this could be as simple as 1 EMAIL to each school w/that school's specific info w/notes to forward to all---this would then give PROPER notice and then if the affected families did NOTHING...then that is there own fault.....BUT, to call what was done NOTICE---IS RIDICULOUS!!!

And then to allow last minute adjustments before the meeting starts w/o posting on the website or mentioning the pages being dropped and changed at the meeting (BECAUSE I WATCHED THE WHOLE THING as nothing (mentioned) of this!!!!)...is again DISHONEST!!

I hope that you can feel good about this and the PROCESS---I personally would not be able to sleep at night---DO YOU REALLY FEEL THIS WAS THE RIGHT THING???

I plan on remembering (and not letting anyone at my school---parents/staff/volunteers/etc---forget) when it comes to voting for the school board next election....it appears only Janet Clark and Nina Hayden have any lick of common sense on this issue---and will be the only ones getting MY VOTE next time!!"

I also agree but forgot to mention the Connect Ed system....this could have easily given EVERY family a notice of the schedule change and referred them to their individual schools for thier schedule--I would have wanted to know this as to plan to attend and speak at the Board Meeting and/or send my say in email before the meeting. Are the board members forgetting that they are elected and can be voted out at the next election!---I only wish there was a impeachment process for most of the board at this point!

JUST MY STAND AS I SEE IT!

[dumb]

What about Friday? There was no new material to be taught, no exams, and no exam reviews. What a waste of a day.

[Concerned]

To the parents of High School students, if your HS student is not getting enough sleep, it is probaly because they are staying up too late. They will soon be approaching the world of work, and many jobs start earlier. The early start and release time was intended to alloy HS students to gain employment after school and learn the responsibility of holding a job and earning money. I firmlly believe what ever time the school board wanted to start school, some parent would be unhappy about it. The solution is use your Jeb Bush vouchers and HOME SCHOOL or PRIVATE SCHOOL your young adults.

[JJ]

I have not heard of any parents or teachers that are in favor of this. Some voted not even knowing this was part of the agreement. As I've said before on other blogs, such as the one about school reassignments, this school board and superintendent seem intent on driving our schools into the ground. The most upsetting part is their apparent avoidance of input from the community. Obviously, we have a dictatorship that needs to be ousted at our next voting opportunity. If I can't voice my opinion like "stop whining" suggests, what kind of democracy is this? p.s. When I went into teaching, I knew I would spend many hours planning and grading papers. That is why I didn't have to work a 9-hour schedule 12 months a year, and it was understood to be part of the job.

[joe]

Public schools in Pinellas is getting gooder and gooder.

[Lorrie]

Whatever happened to the idea of making the high school start time later? It is ridiculous to force teenagers to start school at 7:05 a.m. and expect levels of high achievement and academic success. The research indicates that teenagers need this extra sleep in the morning. No wonder there is such a high drop-out rate in the Pinellas County High Schools!

[betty is dumb]

Apathy is part of a democracy. People can choose not to vote.

Why is public debate needed? Less conversation, more action.

[Rod]

The 2008/09 schedule did away with early release days because they were nonproductive. Now they are back for next year and apparently educationally sound? What is wrong with this picture?

[Betty]

**The school provides a service. If you don't like the service they are providing go to a private school.**

Oh please, the school is paid by taxpayers to provide the service and they never bothered to bring parents into the loop when making a major decision that will affect work schedules and child care. There was never even any public debate on whether this is a a good idea.

3,000 teachers didn't even vote on it and the ones who did, it was a very close vote, so it's hardly a huge need on the part of teachers. Many of them don't want the disruption either.

[P from Clearwater]

why should we have to pay more for childcare? the kids will be staying 15 minutes longer on M, T, Thursday and Friday to make up the time. The childcare should not go up.
I'm not too crazy about the time difference but if it will benefit the teachers, more power to them. I think teachers have the hardest job - they are paid poorly for all their schooling/degrees that they need to have to get a job - then they have to deal w/ problem children that takes away from them teaching the kids that want to learn. The problem children should go to a different school, then the good kids will get the education that they deserve.

[RuthieGix]

It boils down to do you want to give teachers extra time to plan for lessons or are teachers really just babysitters?

[stop whining]

The school provides a service. If you don't like the service they are providing go to a private school.

[kathy is dumb]

I hope your child is getting a better education than you. You have no grammar skills. One example is your spelling of a lot. It is 2 words.

[Kathy]

Why is no attention being given to the change to the Elementary school start times for approx 8 school from 7:45-8:45???...no communication or news coverage on this topic and this is a 5 day a week adjustment for families not just Wed!!!....If there are other working parents out there who drive their children to school and try to stay involved in their education community, why were none of the parents at these schools (or at least at my school, I know they were not)notified of this potential adjustement w/the early dismissal proposal??????

I feel really awful for the parents who returned the forms the school board sent out in March allowing them to stay at thier current school only if they opted to provide their own transporation....I am sure many opted to drive and were able to w/7:45 start time...I wonder how many will not be able to do it at 8:45...and will then need to have the administration relocate them to thier neighborhood school or alternate school w/busing...Yeah, that sounds like it will save the school board ALOT of $$...makes you wonder who proposes these ideas???!!!

[Bart S.]

Instead of schools using term "early release" why not use term such as "early dismissal" instead.

"Early release" sounds like prison lingo!

[retiredteacher]

Insider is correct; most teachers hate the Wednesday thing. Principals will steal the time (it will have to be grieved) and not much will be accomplished. Teachers hated the 2 hour early release too.

[Fed Up Reading Teacher]

Yes Susan it is SO much better to take time off when the students are present and you have to get a sub than to take it on an early release day. And BTW--most teachers use COMP TIME on those days... COMP TIME is earned when a teacher misses a normally scheduled planning period (i.e. covering another teacher's class when they are absent and there's no sub), attending meetings beyond the normal school day in LIEU of overtime pay. COMP TIME can only be used when during NON-STUDENT time...so for some teachers they've collected HUNDREDS of COMP TIME that they can only use on certain days.... never enough available days to use all the COMP TIME earned. Additionally, teachers have 5 personal days per year.... just like other degreed professions and they can use them as they wish. You don't get the right to dictate every aspect of a teacher's life (i.e. how they spend their PERSONAL paid leave).

Also, this early release day was negotiated because the work day was extended by 20 minutes for teachers WITHOUT a proportionate increase in salary or planning time. Teachers get their work done regardless where they do it. Who cares if they want to go have lunch with their friends to unwind and then go home and grade their papers? If it gets done, it gets done. Other professions have lunch time. You have no idea how isolating teaching can be and what a real TREAT it is to actually get to sit down and eat your food in a decent manner, rather than shoveling it down your throat because you have to go break up a fight. Most days I'm lucky if I have time to eat after I walk the students down stairs to lunch and use the restroom.

What exactly is your complaint? That you have to pay for after-school care for two hours for your children? Take it out of your precious property savings Floridians voted for.

[Insider]

This is one more example of the incompetence and lack of foresight shown by Pinellas County leadership. The planning day is nothing more than an add-on to the contract by the PCTA in order to give them something to celebrate as "advocacy" for teachers. Most teachers were not involved in this decision, nor were most even asking for it. It was a PCTA public relations ploy, used to detract from the weak, ineffective bargaining that took place. As for the changes in start times...it has ALWAYS been about money. Do not believe the District's propaganda about decisions being made in the "best interest of students". Like so many other decisions rendered as of late, it is not. They ignore the research that shows that middle school students do not function well in the late afternoon, or the fact that high- school students require more sleep, or that 15 minutes per day at the expense of one solid hour is academically counter-productive. Most of the school board lacks ANY business, educational, or administrative experience, which renders them unqualified to lead us during these times. Money is the King-maker UNTIL parents get together and proactively bring change at all levels.

[Susan]

I meant once a month.

[Susan]

The teachers in Hills get extra planning time one Wednesday a week and on any one of those days, the restaurants are filled with teachers having a long lunch away from school. At our school, the teachers left before the car rider line even started moving. They also take time off and go to appointments. So if it is for planning, why allow all this other use of the alloted time?

[Another brillant plan]

This is just insane--all the scheduling that will have to change so that teachers can have an extra hour of planning time? Yes the need it, but at this cost? Are the teachers happy with a shortened day? Nope. Parents? Nope. Anyone with a brain can see this is stupid. Board? Nope. Union? Nope.

[Karen]

Few changes. I still do not understand how Hillsborough County can have more normal start times.( all schools start between 7:30 and 9:00am) In Pinellas starting times are from 7:05 through 9:30am. Why can't we put middle and high on the same bus ? Also does Thurgood Marshall no longer provide busing ? How did they get an earlier time than all other middle schools. 7:05 is too early and 9:30 way too late. No wonder our kids are struggling.