Yikes, Cherokee and Paulding plan makeup days during February break
UPDATED with Paulding info at 9 p.m.
I imagine this news is not going to sit well with Cherokee County parents and teachers already holding plane tickets or cruise ship reservations for the week-long February break. I know some Cherokee families planning a Disney trip. They will not be happy with this news although I assume some resorts may issue refunds in the circumstances.
My system also has a February break so I wonder if we will lose some of the days. Frankly, I would rather that they junk the entire week than reduce it by a few days.
I understand that a waiver is possible, allowing Cherokee and other systems to dip below the required number of school days this year. But one official told me that the question is whether kids will be ready for the CRCT without making up these snow days.
Here is what Cherokee schools have posted on the web site:
On behalf of the Superintendent of Schools, this is to advise that Cherokee County Schools will be closed on Friday, January 14, due to continued icy road conditions throughout the County. 12-month employees should report at 10 a.m. Also, you are reminded that schools will be closed on Monday, January 17, in recognition of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday.
Finally, unless the State subsequently provides a waiver allowing some or all of this year’s missed (six) school days not to be rescheduled/made up, the School District plans to schedule two make-up days in lieu of the previously announced furlough days scheduled for March 17th and 18th, 2011; and the remaining four make-up days would occur during the February Break (reducing that week-long break to a 3-day [Saturday/Sunday/Monday] weekend in conjunction with the Presidents’ Day Holiday).
A poster shared a link to this news item at the Dallas-Hiram Patch.Com. The story states:
Students and teachers in the Paulding County School System will not get six days off that had been in the district’s calendar this semester. Following the recommendation from Superintendent Cliff Cole, school board members voted unanimously Thursday to use the upcoming winter break, Feb. 21-25, and a March 11 school holiday as class days to make up the time missed this week due to winter weather.
From Maureen Downey, for the AJC Get Schooled blog
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217 comments Add your comment
THe Sky is Falling!!
January 13th, 2011
5:00 pm
Why is everyone assuming we will not be given the waiver? The state has been willing to give these in the past. In fact, just yesterday you had the DOE response on here which sounded like they would be more than willing to work with the counties to provide waivers. Cherokee County missed 3 days last year and made up zero. Why would we make up 6 now? I doubt this will even be an issue. Everything has to be a major panic situation.
say what?
January 13th, 2011
5:02 pm
I would hope that extending the school day would have been a better choice. Do they not realize that much money has been saved on utilities and bus services for these snow days? The weather gave us lemons, could have made lemonade, but instead given a sour taste to the parents, students and staff.
Who Cares
January 13th, 2011
5:10 pm
BIG DEAL. PARENTS WILL WRITE A NOTE IF THEY ARE TAKING OFF FOR THAT WEEK. EVERYBODY PANIC!!!
Charkey Joe
January 13th, 2011
5:12 pm
We don’t need to make them days up – too much book larnin’ ain’t good fer futur car detailers and nail technicians anywho.
Anonymous
January 13th, 2011
5:14 pm
So, if they sign the waiver, what happens to the teacher salaries? Will they not be paid for those six days?
Maureen Downey
January 13th, 2011
5:14 pm
@Who cares, That would mean these kids would lose this week and the February break. As a parent, I would be concerned with my kids losing two weeks of classes.
Maureen
knock out punch
January 13th, 2011
5:15 pm
Could the CRCT just be pushed back one week? Problem solved…..maybe?
annoyed
January 13th, 2011
5:16 pm
If it were me I’d go on vacation anyway…6 days won’t make or break whether they are ready for the CRCT. If that’s the case the county needs to look at more than missed school days!
CobbParent
January 13th, 2011
5:16 pm
I think the schools should make it up rather than get a waiver. For the people who have, as of today, made non-refundable vacation arrangements, the schools should be able to allow those children and/or teachers to be off. I took homework with me to Florida every year as a child and did it on the beach and those kids can as well. And if you don’t have non-refundable tickets dated prior to today, well then go to school/work and quit whining about how unfair it is because someone else got to go on a Disney cruise…life is, shockingly, unfair sometimes.
Lee
January 13th, 2011
5:18 pm
Oh good grief, go ahead and take your vacation. If the school wants to give you a hard time about it, remember this:
“Please excuse Johnnie for being absent. He was sick.”
See. It’s not that hard.
A teacher
January 13th, 2011
5:18 pm
I’m scheduled for surgery that week.
GT92-UGA98
January 13th, 2011
5:21 pm
Um, Maureen, they would only be missing one week of class (the makeup week) because they were already scheduled for a week off.
LandShark
January 13th, 2011
5:21 pm
What a tragedy…teachers are going to have to make up their time like everyone in the private sector who couldn’t work this week…and none of them get 12+ weeks of vacation.
Jaye
January 13th, 2011
5:23 pm
Why do they need to make up 6 days if they’ll only be missing 5? You can’t count the MLK day because that’s a day they already had built into the school year to miss.
Middle Grades Math Teacher
January 13th, 2011
5:23 pm
@annoyed — there are other issues to be concerned with. If it is a school day and you go on vacation, that is an unexcused absence. If you have too many, you get the attendance letter, stating that any future absence (even just the sniffles) will be unexcused unless you have a dr. note. On a schoolwide basis, our attendance rate is one of the things that counts toward AYP. This is going to hurt!
@Anonymous, I know that in the days before furloughs, teachers made up the time missed by documenting hours beyond the regular workday.
@knock out punch, I think that the state has a testing window that goes through the first week of May. Cherokee is scheduled for testing the last week of April, I believe. This enables us to get test scores back, see who didn’t pass, and do intense half-day remediation for 1 1/2-2 weeks with students who did not pass to help them prepare for retesting. Personally, I’d be ok with keeping the CRCT where it is and continuing with this plan for remediation. I’ve found it to be pretty effective. I
CobbParent
January 13th, 2011
5:24 pm
“As a parent, I would be concerned with my kids losing two weeks of classes.” If you are that concerned then don’t let them miss two weeks of classes….easy as that. Most airline tickets can be rescheduled for a fee. Many cruise and resort vacations can be canceled if you do it 30 days or more in advance. Or else meet with the teachers before you leave and get all of the assignments and make your kids spend an hour or so each day of the vacation doing school work – won’t kill them.
Middle Grades Math Teacher
January 13th, 2011
5:24 pm
@Jaye — December 16 was the first day.
Anonymous
January 13th, 2011
5:24 pm
@LandShark – where did you hear that teachers get to make up that time? I’ve only heard rumors, but it seems these may turn into furlough days. Some in the private sector were able to work from home this week. Teachers have it great, don’t get me wrong, but don’t throw us under the bus! It is not our fault that it actually snowed in the south!
Atlanta mom
January 13th, 2011
5:25 pm
Thanks GT-UGA
Middle Grades Math Teacher
January 13th, 2011
5:26 pm
@Land Shark — please, save your sarcasm. I’m a teacher, and I have absolutely no problem with making up my time, adjusting calendar, etc. The issue for SOME parents (and yes, some teachers) is that they’ve already made plans for this week that may be nonrefundable. This rare weather event has thrown a curve ball in MANY people’s plans, whether you are public or private sector.
knock out punch
January 13th, 2011
5:27 pm
Landshark….we don’t get paid for those days off in summer, so not technically summer vacation….Contracted for 190 days (or 187 or 185, etc., if you have furlough days)…Those are the days we are paid for…Spread out over 12 months….quit hating!
Cobb Teacher 2
January 13th, 2011
5:27 pm
Well, Cobb Parent, I know things are unfair, but it isn’t just vacations people are worried about. As another poster pointed out, surgeries and other medical procedures have been scheduled. I cannot imagine teaching a class for a week with a bunch absent and on vacation. It will be a waste of time. People seem to think that a packet of worksheets done at home suffices for school. It doesn’t. I have three doctors appointments scheduled for my children that week and we will just have to keep them. I try to be responsible and never schedule appointments during school time. I vote for extending days or adding several to the end of the year. No solution is perfect as we have had a rare weather emergency.
Think about it!
January 13th, 2011
5:28 pm
A parent could sit down with their child one on one on a Saturday afternoon and cover any material that their child would be missing to go on their scheduled trip. Much of the school day is spent in transition, lunch, and other non-instructional tasks. If you are smart enough to be able to afford a vacation then you a most likely smart enough to tutor your child over missed material. Seriously, folks just go on your vacation. Without your child there needing to be entertained, the teacher might have an opportunity to give extra time the kids that are struggling.
CobbParent
January 13th, 2011
5:28 pm
@Middle Grades Math – but seriously, how many people, as of right now today, have non-refundable vacation packages for February? Not just people planning to drive to the beach. Or people who can spend $50 and rebook an airline ticket. I mean honest to goodness “oh my lord I spent $10k on a cruise and they won’t change it or refund my money” vacation plans? Are there really so many kids with that situation that our attendance numbers will take a serious dive that week?
Think about it!
January 13th, 2011
5:29 pm
Of course it sucks for the teachers who have other plans!
Richard
January 13th, 2011
5:29 pm
“Oh good grief, go ahead and take your vacation. If the school wants to give you a hard time about it, remember this:
“Please excuse Johnnie for being absent. He was sick.”
See. It’s not that hard.”
Well said Lee!
An American Patriot
January 13th, 2011
5:31 pm
Folks, what is this pre-occupation with CRCT…..either your kids know the material or they don’t…..if they don’t, they need to go to school the required days, no matter when they need to go…..what’s more important…..a Disney Vacation or your childs education? Do you folks really realize what a mess our educational system is? Send your kids to school and SHUT UP.
goodforkids
January 13th, 2011
5:32 pm
For the sake of the CRCT results- seriously. Thanks again, NCLB, for narrowing the focus of early childhood education to a bunch of bubble-in-the-answer questions on a poorly constructed test administered once a year.
Middle Grades Math Teacher
January 13th, 2011
5:34 pm
@Cobb Parent — I really don’t know, but probably quite a few. I know that just before and after a break, I’ll spend time talking with students at recess, and A LOT of them are going skiing, to Disney, flying to visit grandparents. I also have some that go to visit a non-custodial parent who lives out of state at that time.
Again, I’m just giving food for thought here.
@Think about it — most of the complaints that I am hearing today come from parents. I’ve only heard of one teacher (and I’ve talked to a lot today) who has big travel plans then.
Anonymous
January 13th, 2011
5:34 pm
Does anyone know when the state is supposed to make a decision about this waiver? Any info is greatly appreciated!
Think about it!
January 13th, 2011
5:36 pm
QUOTE:”On a schoolwide basis, our attendance rate is one of the things that counts toward AYP. This is going to hurt!”
Oh please! In the long run, going on a great vacation with family is 10 times more valuable an experience than sitting in a classroom for 5 days. So what if it hurts the for AYP. Screw AYP! What’s best for the child is what matters.
CobbParent
January 13th, 2011
5:36 pm
@Cobb Teacher 2 – people have surgery in the real world too. Get a sub. How many teachers (or students) in Cobb County have scheduled surgery for that week? No, really. Most folks I know have no plans for February – they travel during spring break. Just how many kids do you think would be absent that week if we told everyone today that the break was off? My child would be there – no trip to see the grandparents in Florida, too bad so sad.
But if it is such a hassle for everyone, how about this – Go to school Monday and call tomorrow MLK Day; do not release early on February 2nd; have classes on March 18th; have classes on May 26th and 27th. All made up and I get my money’s worth in terms of school days.
Question
January 13th, 2011
5:37 pm
Did Cherokee not build emergency days into their calendar? Cobb built in 4 days, so technically only 1 day has to be made up (unless there are further days off).
Poor Civil Servant
January 13th, 2011
5:37 pm
Kids are kids and let them be such, a week is not going to create some magic and poof they get the material. Parents may have made vacation plans etc. If given the choice of canceling vacation where my child could have some life experience for school, which was a planned time off anyway, so be it, vacation it is. Lets look at it in a realistic manner, the kids know they were not supposed to attend that week, do we really think that mentally they will be there? Sure, they had a week off, but living day to day for the call of no school is just not the same as a planned break. That is my opinion, and it is just that an opinion so nobody throw too many rocks, we all are going to have enough of them hitting our cars in the next few weeks thanks to GA DOT.
Anonymous
January 13th, 2011
5:38 pm
@Thinkaboutit…I’m so sorry you have such a poor opinion of public schools. I am a committed teacher who does everything possibly to make sure my class time is wisely spent investing in your child’s education. 5 days of vacation is nice (and sure, it even could be educational), but don’t underestimate the dedication of the teachers in this state!
Southerner
January 13th, 2011
5:38 pm
I think all of the Yankees in the South should return home. I know they are the bottom feeder Yankees, but still, I would hope they would be forgiven and welcomed back.
A
January 13th, 2011
5:40 pm
Any idea what Fulton is going to do?
Anonymous
January 13th, 2011
5:40 pm
@Question, it is my understanding that once you exceed the emergency days built into a calendar, you have to make them ALL up. Cherokee did have four emergency days, however we missed 6. Now we have to make all 6 up…(unless the State deems otherwise)
Middle Grades Math Teacher
January 13th, 2011
5:42 pm
@Think About It — I am, by no means, a fan of NCLB and all the AYP stuff … far from it! But, teachers have worked like demons to teach these kids, and to do everything we can to meet the federal REQUIREMENTS. This goes to show just what we’ve been trying to say in other Get Schooled postings. We have NO CONTROL over whether students will come to school or not. But we are held accountable for that!
Binh
January 13th, 2011
5:42 pm
They could make one day up by holding classes on Monday. Even the post office is considering delivery on Monday.
Teachers and students have had 5 holiday days already.
School Closings
January 13th, 2011
5:44 pm
Maybe they just need to junk all these tests and go to testing once a week on what was taught that week and at the end of the grading period test on what was learned the previous weeks. This would give a better handle on who is learning, who is struggling in an area, etc. As it is now teachers have to start preparing for the CRCT the first day of the school year. NCLB is nothing more than a joke. Yes kids need to be in school every day it is open but sometimes things happen such as sickness that they can’t be but if you are a responsible parent then you make sure they get what they missed when they go back and do it. The whole educational system in Georgia needs to be examined and changes made. Do like they do in California and other places – school all year long with periodic breaks of a week. I get tired of parents complaining that the system crimps their lifestyle and plans. Your kids and their education should be your top priority.
Home Schooler
January 13th, 2011
5:44 pm
We home school our kids. We figured, if everyone else is not having to go to school, why should our kids? We had a great time this week. Maybe we’ll be able to pick up some vacation deals in February because of the cancellations.
Question
January 13th, 2011
5:46 pm
@Anonymous…I have never heard that…in years past, when Cobb went over days, we only had to make up the days over the built in days. Why would anyone build them in if there was a chance we would have to make them up anyway? The first indication is that Cobb will make up their 1 day on March 18 which was a scheduled teacher workday. They are not talking about making up all 5 even though we only had 4 built in…..
justwondering...
January 13th, 2011
5:46 pm
This teacher has “big travel plans” – a cruise for my 25th anniversary – already paid for. This is the first time I’ve ever planned anything big for a break other than summer. Even if I rebooked, I wouldn’t be able to get the same prices as I booked this almost a year ago. I know a lot of my students have plans – I don’t know how flexible those plans are, but I would expect to see low enrollment, and as a school that needs attendance for AYP, that’s a little frightening.
Up until last year, when our snow days become furlough days (in other words, LandShark, we did not get paid – like some in the private sector), we had to track our time to show that we worked those hours, or use personal days (also llike the private sector, LandShark). I do wish people would quit spreading misinformation about that stuff.
If we need to make it up, we need to use any teacher workdays between now and then, and then just add the days to the end of the year. I would love to see the CRCT pushed back – WAY back – to the last week of school. Then we wouldn’t have to worry about the kids mentally checking out (and those that fail can take it again over the summer on their own time – remediation can be provided online, and those that don’t have computers can go to the library – if they can’t go to the library, then they should worry a little bit more about passing the first time). Can you tell the CRCT stuff rubs me the wrong way?
82Dawg
January 13th, 2011
5:48 pm
No matter what they do it want make everybody happy…
NoOneCares
January 13th, 2011
5:48 pm
Honestly, no one cares – you have a cruise/vacation planned, or other plans and now the kids have to go to school. BFD. Live with it. That’s the breaks. As our public schools suck in terms of conveyance of a quality education, you should be happy the tricycle motors are in the classroom, hopefully absorbing something……..
Middle Grades Math Teacher
January 13th, 2011
5:49 pm
@Home Schooler, my understanding of the state rules, from a friend who home schools, is that you must document 180 days of schools, with no time off for sickness, vacations, etc. If your child is sick a day, you can take that day off, but must hold school on a different day. You can hold school on Saturday, Sunday, etc. A traditional school can’t do that.
a_mom
January 13th, 2011
5:55 pm
If officials are able to get the word out on short notice that school is cancelled, then couldn’t they get the word out that school will be held on MLK day instead of taking that off? Why not make up a day here and there instead of possibly using up the whole week break?
Can anyone tell me what the school could/would do if you do take your child out and send in a “sick” note for that week? My kid is in a younger grade & always well ahead of the class in reading & math so I’m not that concerned about what he’ll miss that week. I just wonder about what consequences it would have from school officials. Anyone know?
Florida Here We Come
January 13th, 2011
5:55 pm
We work too hard to not keep our vacation plans. We don’t have three month summer vacations like the poor teachers. We’ll probably just leave the kids at home. It will be like a second honeymoon. The kids will be disappointed though.
kay
January 13th, 2011
5:55 pm
I teach in the only county that will make up all these days. Even I don’t think it’s right for Cherokee to loose this break.