Kiss These Days Goodbye

Despite my best intentions of posting here on each of District 65’s early dismissal days, #3 & #4 got lost somewhere in between winter break, spring break and the never-ending work/family juggling act. However, today’s early release couldn’t escape without recognition, not only because it is the fifth and final in this school year but because it's likely the last one we’ll see for a while.

In the 2009-2010 calendar recently approved by the D65 School Board, there will no longer be the hodgepodge of shortened school days - where on some, students get out 1.5 hours early and on others, 3.5 hours early - which is enough to drive even the most organized parent to the brink. Instead, we will have seven half days (aka “school improvement days”) evenly spread throughout the academic year and held consistently on the first Wednesday of the month. This will give teachers more meaningful blocks of time for professional development and parents a much more predictable schedule to deal with. Now, how’s that for a win-win?

But, as I explained to a friend who was frantically trying to figure out whether she could skip out of the office early or find someone else to watch the kids this afternoon, the change did not come about overnight. It took a multi-year organizing effort that included: getting more parents involved in the D65 Calendar Committee, sending countless e-mails and placing phone calls to communicate our concerns to school leaders, writing letters to the editor, and spending many weekday evenings testifying (and drinking way too much coffee to stay awake) at School Board meetings. And, although it hasn’t come easy, this mini-movement of sorts has proven that it is possible to create a school system that is "friendlier" for working parents while being responsive to the needs of teachers, administrators and students.

Even with these improvements, I know that many challenges still lie ahead including coming together as a community to figure out how we can provide affordable, quality child care for families who need it when school is not in session. At least for now, though, we can say goodbye to early dismissals and hello to a calendar that will hopefully make life a little bit better for all of us.