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Thank you for sharing this concern with me. I understand your point of view. Memorial Day is an important holiday. The decision to use this day as a make up day was made over a year ago when the Board of Education adopted the 2008-2009 calendar in December of 2007. The state of North Carolina requires us to operate school for 180 instructional days. The year can begin no sooner than August 25th and must end by June 10th. This calendar (like all others) is the result of the work of a committee made up of teachers, principals, and parents. These decisions are not made lightly. The committee decided to use May 25th rather than the March 9th workday because that was the only teacher workday during the two month span of February and March. The committee recognized that this day was needed for teachers to do grades, catch up, and to give students and staff a break of sorts. I would not support going to school on Saturday. We did that a few years back and it was not productive time. Attendance was dramatically impacted and many families had complications with other commitments.
In closing, I understand your feelings about Memorial Day, but given the parameters in which we have to operate and considering the total picture, I feel we need to stay with the calendar as decided upon by the committee in 2007.
I hope this information is helpful to you!
Sincerely,
Ed Davis
His response while logical, demostrates the "heavy-handed control" the state exerts over local schools. Who was the person that came up with the idea that school must start by Aug 25th and end by June 10th? It should be a matter for each school district to decide. As long as you get the 180 days in - what's the big to-do? If you need 3 snow days, tack them on at the end of the year. Will civilization as we know it collapse, if school runs to June 13th? I think not! I was shocked when I saw the school by me open on President's Day - I thought that was the made-up snowday, and even that, ticked me off, because I thought the Monroe Aquatic center would be jammed with kids out of school so I didn't do my "routine". The individual school systems should tell the state "bite me" -we'll do it as we see fit!
My sister is a UCPS teacher, and she said they usually don't even have to go in on teacher work days. Sometimes they have a meeting in the early morning, but she's always home by 9 or 10. She loves it, of course, b/c it's like a day off to teachers. Not sure why it would matter if they take a work day away.
I was surprised to see Memorial Day as the makeup day. I work for CMS, and they have not announced yet when their makeup day will be. I don't think it is fair to take away a holiday, a day off, or a Saturday for teachers. Those snow days were optional teacher workdays (which means you either work it or use an annual leave day to stay home if you have any available). So, I worked on the teacher workday. If I am required to come in on a holiday, Saturday, or over spring break, that is making me work an extra day this school year without pay. I don't understand how they could close schools for students, but think it is safe for school employees to get on the roads to come to work, but that is another gripe...
I was surprised to see Memorial Day as the makeup day. I work for CMS, and they have not announced yet when their makeup day will be. I don't think it is fair to take away a holiday, a day off, or a Saturday for teachers. Those snow days were optional teacher workdays (which means you either work it or use an annual leave day to stay home if you have any available). So, I worked on the teacher workday. If I am required to come in on a holiday, Saturday, or over spring break, that is making me work an extra day this school year without pay. I don't understand how they could close schools for students, but think it is safe for school employees to get on the roads to come to work, but that is another gripe...
Union County did not do an optional teacher work day. The system was closed to teachers too on those "snow" days.
Just a reminder that no one makes you send your child to school. Each child is allowed a certain number of absences over the year, so if you don't want them to attend, don't send them! You can still go on vacation if you were planning too. As for me, as a teacher, beach plans have been cancelled. Can you imagine trying to get a sub on a holiday?!
Did parents or the union have more say when the school calendar was developed and the makeup days decided. Will teachers be there or will they take off? If they take off is it with or without consequence.
i think people are more upset that it's taking away from a 3-day weekend as oppose to taking away the actual rememberance and celebration of memorial day which is to commemorate the men and women who lost their lives in service to our country. just a little perspective. just saying
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