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Parents, students consulted about new year's calendar
For the first time, the Douglas County School District's 2004-05 calendar incorporated feedback from teachers, parents and students, said Nancy Sebring, assistant superintendent of learning services.
By By: Susan Dage-Ruby
For the first time, the Douglas County School District's 2004-05 calendar incorporated feedback from teachers, parents and students, said Nancy Sebring, assistant superintendent of learning services.
"We are listening to our customers, and it shows in the work of our project team," said Jim Christensen, superintendent of schools.
The project team approach puts the focus back on what's best for the classroom teacher, said Pat McGraw, president of the Douglas County Federation of Teachers and a member of calendar project team.
Putting together the school calendar is not as simple as it might appear, Sebring said.
Elementary schools in the district are mostly year-round, which means each of the tracks has to have a calendar. Added to that is the fact that elementary schools work on a trimester system, middle schools use a semester system and high schools a quarter system.
"We started with defining some guiding principles," Sebring said.
Those included compliance with Colorado law, and with the negotiated agreements with the teachers' union regarding teacher training days, she said.
They also wanted to make the semesters as equal in length as possible and scheduled fall and spring breaks so they don't conflict with test schedules.
A team of teachers, administrators and central office employees put together a proposed calendar for feedback, Sebring said.
"We made some assumptions including that we thought having equal semesters was very important to parents and teachers," McGraw said. "What we found out was that it was less important than ending the semester before winter break."
"We heard from more than 1,000 teachers and 300 parents and students," Sebring said. "We looked at what was coming to us and put together a compromise."
Some of the compromises include moving early dismissal days from mid-week to Fridays.
"Parents told us it would be easier to find day-care arrangements if we moved early dismissals," Sebring said.
There also was strong support for the semester to end before the beginning of winter break, she said.
"We will start a little later in August and end before the winter break," Sebring said. "It makes the second semester a little longer than the first, but it works."
Calendars need to be built each year because of changes in state law and holidays, she said. The next calendars will likely be built using the same method, Sebring said.
"The process worked," she said. "We were committed to doing what was best for as many as possible. This has set the groundwork for subsequent calendars."
McGraw agrees.
"The response from parents and students validated the process," McGraw said. "That validation is the part I liked the best."
The 2004-05 school calendar can be seen at www.dcsdk12.org. Parents will receive a color copy of the calendar in mid-December, said Bruce Caughey, spokesman for the district.
"We are listening to our customers, and it shows in the work of our project team," said Jim Christensen, superintendent of schools.
The project team approach puts the focus back on what's best for the classroom teacher, said Pat McGraw, president of the Douglas County Federation of Teachers and a member of calendar project team.
Putting together the school calendar is not as simple as it might appear, Sebring said.
Elementary schools in the district are mostly year-round, which means each of the tracks has to have a calendar. Added to that is the fact that elementary schools work on a trimester system, middle schools use a semester system and high schools a quarter system.
"We started with defining some guiding principles," Sebring said.
Those included compliance with Colorado law, and with the negotiated agreements with the teachers' union regarding teacher training days, she said.
They also wanted to make the semesters as equal in length as possible and scheduled fall and spring breaks so they don't conflict with test schedules.
A team of teachers, administrators and central office employees put together a proposed calendar for feedback, Sebring said.
"We made some assumptions including that we thought having equal semesters was very important to parents and teachers," McGraw said. "What we found out was that it was less important than ending the semester before winter break."
"We heard from more than 1,000 teachers and 300 parents and students," Sebring said. "We looked at what was coming to us and put together a compromise."
Some of the compromises include moving early dismissal days from mid-week to Fridays.
"Parents told us it would be easier to find day-care arrangements if we moved early dismissals," Sebring said.
There also was strong support for the semester to end before the beginning of winter break, she said.
"We will start a little later in August and end before the winter break," Sebring said. "It makes the second semester a little longer than the first, but it works."
Calendars need to be built each year because of changes in state law and holidays, she said. The next calendars will likely be built using the same method, Sebring said.
"The process worked," she said. "We were committed to doing what was best for as many as possible. This has set the groundwork for subsequent calendars."
McGraw agrees.
"The response from parents and students validated the process," McGraw said. "That validation is the part I liked the best."
The 2004-05 school calendar can be seen at www.dcsdk12.org. Parents will receive a color copy of the calendar in mid-December, said Bruce Caughey, spokesman for the district.
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