School Schedules Could Change Significantly Next Year
District leaders are proposing a schedule that includes a weekly early release on Wednesdays at all schools in order to prepare for changes in state academic standards.
Photos
A substantial shift in the state’s education standards in 2014 will result in sweeping changes to the curriculum in classrooms across the country. The higher academic standards will also cause a sizable shift in next year’s school schedules at all levels in the Menomonee Falls School District.
District leaders are proposing a revised schedule that includes an early release every Wednesday at all schools in the system. The Menomonee Falls High School schedule already includes an early Wednesday release this year.
Ending the day 60 minutes early on a weekly basis would allow teachers to extensively track student performance through a data-driven approach, and prepare for more rigorous state performance standards.
Here’s a look at the proposed schedules for next year:
- Menomonee Falls High School: 7:50 a.m. to 3:05 p.m., 7:50 a.m. to 1:55 p.m. Wednesdays
- North Middle School: 7:15 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., 7:15 a.m. to 1:20 p.m. Wednesdays
- Elementary Schools: 8:50 a.m. to 3:40 p.m., 8:50 a.m. to 2:35 p.m. Wednesdays
- Kindergarten: 8:50-11:30 a.m. and 12:50-3:30 p.m., 8:50-10:50 a.m. and 12:15-2:15 p.m. on Wednesdays
The first day of school would fall on Sept. 3, and the last day of school would fall on June 12. Classroom time would be made up by cutting out a full day off of school in October, and trimming a few half days from the schedule.
Superintendent Patricia Greco acknowledged the schedule change would likely cause inconveniences for families – notably those families with children at the elementary level. However, she said change is necessary to best serve students and families during an unprecedented shift in education.
“This is probably the most unprecedented change I’ve seen in my entire career,” Greco said. “Imagine every work responsibility and protocol changing simultaneously where you are employed, and you have a two-year period of time for to prepare for it.”
Greco said teachers will be evaluating student progress on a 10-day cycle and the weekly early release allows teachers to crunch the data, meet as a team, track student progress, and adapt lesson plans on a continual basis. Previously, teachers monitored student progress on a quarterly basis.
Greco said teachers and administrators agreed the proposed schedule was the best option for student learning since it reduces the need for substitute teachers in the classroom. Without a block of time on Wednesdays, teachers would be pulled from classrooms for their required training and development.
“First and foremost, it’s to make sure we are setting the schedule to maximize student learning and progress. Second, to build staff development time into the schedule, and third to not go too late into June,” Greco said.
Greco said transportation, childcare, and supervised after-school study periods will be available for students to accommodate the change in schedule.
Still a Proposal
School Board member David Noshay made it clear Monday that input from parents on the proposed schedule is needed more than ever.
“You need to tell us what you think here,” Noshay said to residents watching on Falls Cable Access Monday. “When we were in discussions, 20 or so teachers told us this is the best way to educate children, but we need you to tell us. It’s important. Please give us the feedback.”
The first opportunity to weigh in on the new schedule is at the district roundtable discussion at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 5 at the North Middle School library. The schedule will be the primary focus of the evening. The district also plans to hold several feedback sessions before the proposal goes for a potential vote of approval in January. However, the January deadline is dependent upon reaching an agreement from parents, district staff and the School Board.
Greco said administrators considered an early release every other week, or a day off once a month. They opted on the weekly early release schedule for consistency, and to track student progress in an incremental manner.
Michele Divelbiss, PTA president at Valley View Elementary School, said the district will need to effectively communicate how the proposed schedule benefits student learning.
“(Parents) aren’t crazy about it at the elementary level. They want to know what the real benefit is for the kids,” Divelbiss said. “We are going to need to see how losing that hour, and gaining those five minutes on other days, will benefit our kids.”
In This article
-
Menomonee Falls High School
W142n8101 Merrimac Dr, Menomonee Falls, WI -
-
North Middle School
N88w16750 Garfield Dr, Menomonee Falls, WI -
Valley View Elementary School
W180n8130 Town Hall Rd, Menomonee Falls, WI
Steve ®
10:13 pm on Monday, November 26, 2012
Are we still living in la la land in the schools? You can crunch this "data" after the kids leave at the normal time. The students are not even at school for 8 hours so cry me a river. You work zero over time you work less than 9 months out of the year yet receive full time pay and benefits. I was at work today until the work was done, which was 6pm.
Sincerely~
The Real World
Linda
6:50 am on Tuesday, November 27, 2012
Where is the LOVE button here? :)
Steve ®
9:35 am on Tuesday, November 27, 2012
The love button went away in 2011 when the teachers showed their true colors of greed and unionista whining.
Christopher Ryan Hillman
10:19 pm on Monday, November 26, 2012
I am a current student at Menomonee Falls High School. The schedule will stay the same for me. I think that the elementary level shouldn't have the early release because they could possibly be paying more out of their pockets due to the child care option if necessarily.
Nick Burazin
10:23 pm on Monday, November 26, 2012
they need to look at test scores around the country. high schools that start later in the day get higher test score. i propose that the high school should switch start and end times with the elementary schools. the younger kids are up anyways and the high school kids will be able to be more well rested for the day ahead leading to higher test scores and higher graduation rate and success post school
Carl Engelking
11:03 pm on Monday, November 26, 2012
What if - instead of an early release, they start school an hour later?
Barb V
2:56 pm on Tuesday, November 27, 2012
I agree with Nick- Elementary School students should "go" first, then middle school with the High School kids starting later in the morning. Also is there a reason why the early dismissal day can't be on a Friday?
Jann
3:54 pm on Tuesday, November 27, 2012
It would not be good for the high school students to end their day at 3:40 because of work and sports schedules. Students already leave way too early at times to get to games. Also, I think it would be dark in the morning at times for the elementary students waiting for the bus at certain times of the year if they had the earliest start time. I do think the early dismissal on Friday makes sense because perhaps some parents get out early that day any how. Maybe the district is concerned that parents would end up taking their students out even earlier on a regular basis to go out of town etc.
jtm
7:51 am on Tuesday, November 27, 2012
Carl, as always, teacher performance/hours will be the focus of many of these comments. Can you tell us what the teacher contracted hours currently are and how that will be affected by the change?
Carl Engelking
9:06 am on Tuesday, November 27, 2012
@jtm - Currently, there are 190 teacher days in the 2012-13 calendar. Next year, the schedule includes 196. Those days are primarily before the school year to meet with students to assess their academic needs before the year starts.
jtm
10:31 am on Tuesday, November 27, 2012
Will they be adjusting pay for increasing the number of days? Are those added 6 days full 8 hour days also? As I understand the teachers are contracted to work 8 hour days during the school year, right? Also, I see a lot of teachers helping out buses and such before classes and after classes, do they get paid extra for that? Just wondering because as they say, there's no such thing as free!
Carl Engelking
5:23 pm on Tuesday, November 27, 2012
I'd have to dig into the contract again - but the handbook is getting developed so a lot will change for teachers once that's finished.
Nuitari
6:34 pm on Tuesday, November 27, 2012
jtm, are you a blue-fister?
jtm
10:18 pm on Tuesday, November 27, 2012
LOL Nuitari - just want questions answered so i can be informed. Do you know the answers to these questions?
Nuitari
5:06 am on Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Sorry jtm , I have no answers on this.
Michele Divelbiss
7:59 pm on Thursday, November 29, 2012
There are also more in service days added on in June under the new proposed calendar. Extra duty pay did change with the last contract, as did class load at the high school. Elementary teachers are currently expected to be at work from 8-4. They do have 30 minutes in the morning where they can meet and then some have duties starting at 8:30.
Steve ®
10:06 am on Friday, November 30, 2012
How long is a typical teacher lunch break? 30 mins like the kids get?
Larry Reeder
8:03 am on Tuesday, November 27, 2012
Start an hour later each day, which "seems" to promote learning, and "seems" to be backed by good research. The teachers can use the time in the morning to "crunch numbers", etc. Like was said before - those of us that are salaried work until it's done and that may mean 10+ hour days, 60 hour weeks - we do it or we'll lose our job.
GBlair
8:17 am on Tuesday, November 27, 2012
I do not agree that this has anything to do with...
"...the best option for student learning since it reduces the need for substitute teachers in the classroom." or “...it’s to make sure we are setting the schedule to maximize student learning and progress...”
I believe It has to do with not making teachers stay outside of classroom time to get their "data/paperwork" updated. I am against the every week early release. If they HAVE to give the teachers more time, select the one full day a month option. It would make it easier for parents to arrange childcare. The every week option really screws our work schedule.
SKD
9:50 am on Tuesday, November 27, 2012
The big part of early release is for the teachers to meet as a team. This is hard to do outside of the school day as they have other obligations including coaching, tutoring, and academic clubs. As a parent this will mess up my schedule, but I will all adapt. I grew up in the Elmbrook district and they started early release on Thursdays almost 20 years ago. It has worked. When I was a student I remember enjoying being able to work an extra hour at my job or when I was in sports I was home early enough to have dinner with my family that one day a week.
As a parent that will have to arrange child care it won't be much different for us. My children will go to their daycare an hour earlier.
I do wish there was a way for middle school to not start so early, but I understand how the buses work too. We are on the outskirts and I imagine my children will have to get on the bus by 6am.
Susan C
11:22 am on Tuesday, November 27, 2012
@SKD - I was going to leave a comment about Elmbrook School District. I know they have Early Release every Thursday and have been doing it for years. Perhaps a parent or teacher from Elmbrook SD could weigh in?
Nuitari
4:18 pm on Tuesday, November 27, 2012
Back when I went to MFHS, I woke up at 5:30 and got there at 6:50. Granted classes started at 7:20, but I always was an asskicker.
Notty
9:04 pm on Tuesday, November 27, 2012
Carl, I think your suggestion is better than the school's proposal.
James Gottemoller
9:32 pm on Tuesday, November 27, 2012
Lets hear more about the benefits of this proposal. Does it break up the week? Does it help kids by giving the mental break at mid week?
Steve ®
10:01 pm on Tuesday, November 27, 2012
1 extra hr without supervision to smoke pot.
Nuitari
5:07 am on Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Pot is so 90s. They do meth now, Steve.
Steve ®
1:11 pm on Wednesday, November 28, 2012
No wonder sales are down. Thanks for the business tip, Nuitari
Melissa
4:12 pm on Wednesday, November 28, 2012
I don't see how it is beneficial to student learning to have a shorter school day. Also, the schools do release at 2:30, 3:05 and 3:40. What's wrong with working until 4, 4:30 and 5? As far as after school activities, those can occur on days other than Wednesdays. Can some of this professional development occur during the summer months? I understand compensation may be an issue. I believe the reason for the early release this year at the h.s. is because of the contract that was signed with the teacher's union. Now that it exists, it will be hard to get rid of it.
Pear 1
3:10 pm on Tuesday, December 4, 2012
Schedules on other days will be adjusted so that the overall contact time with teachers remains the same. DPI will mandate that. Nothing wrong with working until 4:00 or after- but many of the after school activities you would like to see happen on days other than Wednesdays involve competition with schools in other districts. They won't be changing their schedules to accomodate us. Kids won't be hurt by this proposal- and might well be helped by the adults being able to regularly and frequently consult about student achievment. That said, I know that the child care issue for younger kids is going to be a bear.
Drive To 24
8:38 pm on Friday, November 30, 2012
I see the teacher bashers have come out again. I suspect this an administrative decision supported by the school board. Don't like it - go to a school board meeting or run for a school board seat.
justsayin
6:36 am on Saturday, December 1, 2012
If we are really doing this for the students, has year round schooling been discussed?