School Schedule Change Dismisses Parents
If they haven’t done so already, the next time parents of Lincoln, Lincolnwood, and Oakton schools open their children’s backpacks they will find a letter from D65 Superintendent Hardy Murphy informing them that school hours will change next year. The letter, which was dated May 13th (but not sent home until May 23rd right before the long holiday weekend and on a shortened school day when many children weren’t even in attendance), explains that beginning in September 2008, the starting time will shift to 9:00 a.m. to bring it into alignment with other D65 elementary schools which will all dismiss at 3:20 p.m.
While I support the goal of consistent scheduling across the District and the desire to ensure that all teachers can take advantage of professional development training (the rationale outlined in the letter), I take issue with a school administration that would go about making such a dramatic change without the input of the parent community. As I understand, none of the PTAs of the three affected schools were given an opportunity to even comment on the proposed schedule before it was announced. And, unless I missed something, this matter never even came before the School Board, which would have given the public a chance to express their views.
One would think that after months of community dialogue about how the school calendar impacts parents’ ability to work and care for our families, that there would have been more sensitivity and thought given to these issues. But, based on the letter that went home on Friday, it doesn’t appear that they were part of the equation at all. Rather, the administration credits itself for giving parents early notice so that we can “adjust [y]our schedules and routines for the new school year.”
Do they really think that it’s as simple as letting your employer know that you can no longer get to your job on time because the schools have decided to change their hours? Are they so removed from reality not to know that family budgets are already stretched terribly thin and that many parents who dash to the train after dropping their child to school at 8:20 will now have to find away to pay for before-school child care. Who knows if such care is even available since there is no mention of it in the letter nor could I find anything about it on the District web site (unlike our neighbors in Wilmette School District 39 who have a whole page on their site devoted to this topic). Have we considered the affect the scheduling change will have on families who rely on a child in middle school – which starts at 8:05 a.m. - to make sure a younger sibling gets to class safely each morning? And, what about the families of incoming kindergartners whose decisions about where to send their child next year were based, at least in part, on knowing when the school day would start and end? How will they even be notified of the change and what impact will it have on their choices and lives come this fall?
In the closing paragraph of Dr. Murphy’s letter, he invites parents/guardians to contact his office with questions or concerns. I encourage everyone –whether you have a child in one of the affected schools or not – to make that call to 847-859-8010 and communicate what the school hours change will mean for you and other families. It is also important that parents contact members of the D65 School Board and come out in force to their next meeting which will be held on June 9th, to let them know that we want an educational system that works for all stakeholders – teachers, students and parents – and that the needs of one group should not be sacrificed for those of another. If what we are seeking is a uniform schedule across the District, then let’s sit down and craft something that makes sense for everyone involved.
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grade schools should start early--high schools later
The directive from D65 not only overlooks the concerns of parents, but also points again to the lack of coordination with D202. The high schools should start later, at least according to some research that points to the different body clocks of teens. If grade schools start earlier, either parents can get younger kids off to school before work or teen siblings can help to get the young siblings off to school if parents have already left for work.
I also note that at least one D65 rationale for moving the start time--the ability to coordinate professional education for teachers between schools--falls flat on its face when you consider that the magnet school start time is not coordinated with the other elementary schools. I guess this means either that teachers from the magnet schools won't participate in the same professional education as the other schools, or they will never do it together--and I thought that was the whole point of the district early dismissal days.
Take Action -- Sign the Petition on the D65 Schedule Change
The lady who started this discussion has started a petition. Please click this link and sign -- it's quick and easy: http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/evanston-elementary-school-hours
Let's speak with a strong voice to District 65 -- we are fed up with the arrogance of the District 65 Administration. Parents are vital stakeholders in this process and we deserve to be involved in crucial changes that affect our children and families.
I pay the bill. I'd like some respect from District 65 for a change.
Breach of School Board Policy
This change is a breach by the Superintendent of school board policy. According to the National School Boards Association, "School board policies have the force of law equal to statutes or ordinances. Policies establish directions for the district; they set the goals, assign authority, and establish controls that make school governance and management possible. Policies are the means by which educators are accountable to the public."
If the Board does not hold the Superintendent accountable for this policy breach, the community needs to find some mechanism for holding them accountable.
Here is the policy in question. Note #3 and #4 specifically:
8.95 - Community Relations
Parental Involvement
In order to assure collaborative relationships between students’ families and the District, and to enable parents/guardians to become active partners in their children’s education, the Superintendent shall develop administrative procedures to:
1. Keep parents/guardians thoroughly informed about their child’s school and education.
2. Encourage parents/guardians to be involved in their child’s school and education.
3. Establish effective two-way communication between parents/guardians and the District.
4. Seek input from parents/guardians on significant school-related issues.
5. Inform parents/guardians on how they can assist their children’s learning.
The Superintendent shall periodically report to the Board on the implementation of this policy.
CROSS REF.: 6:170 (Title I Programs), 8:10 (Connection with the Community), 8:90 (Parent
Organizations)
ADOPTED: June 18, 2007
Excellent observation but the School Board will quiver in fear
You raise an excellent point. The School Board's own policy requires that the District Administration "seek input from parents/guardians on significant school-related issues."
When the school day starts and stops -- that's a crucial issue.
Yet the School Board will quiver in fear and not even raise a question to the Superintendent. That's their typical approach on every issue. They have seen how this Superintendent will stop at nothing to get his way. He will divide the community, pit groups against each other.
We wound up with such a weak bunch of do nothings because we did not support those who asked probing questions and wanted to hold the Superintendent accountable for the dismal "race to the bottom" (in response to No Child Left Behind) quality that exists in District 65.
We should apologize to Sharon Sheehan and Jonathan Baum for not standing with them. Now look what we've got -- a total rubber stamp Board with the majority of the Board members afraid of their own shadows.
We have situation of the Emperor's New Clothes in this town. No one can speak the truth about District 65's Administration for fear of reprisals.
back door income stream?
My child is entering Kindergarten at Oakton in the Fall. We're still not clear on when the district was planning on telling us about the time change. Nonetheless, the cynical part of me thinks there's an ulterior motive here. The district is cash-strapped and must know that the greatest proportion of working parents are in south Evanston. Changing the start time to 9:00 suddenly produces a nice $35/week income for the morning care of every child of working parents. And let me guess: the district has no plans to increase staffing for the huge influx of kids needing morning care this Fall.
So, thanks for that swinging backfist, D65!
Working parents should be considered
I have had a pit in my stomach ever since receiving the letter--after 3 years of listening to my kids complain about the child care provided at school I finally broke down and got a babysitter for them after school this year. There's no way I can hire someone for 45 minutes in the mornings, and my kids are already voicing strong opinions and are disheartened at the prospect of mornings in child care. Not to mention the expense! I am feeling strong-armed into using the school child care program, an option that I have consciously avoided. I would like to hear the rationale behind bringing all schools into alignment at 9am rather than 8:25am. A 9am start time seems terribly impractical for working parents of small children.
I agree, it does seem like
I agree, it does seem like between this and the early dismissal days, there are very few options other than the district childcare services, or a babysitter who is flexible enough to come both in the mornings and the afternoons (or a combination of multiple sitters,etc.) Parents have enough to schedule and arrange without all this as well.
Sympathize
I sympathize. We're not affected this time, but a few years ago (when my kids were younger) they changed the bell schedule late in the spring from 9:15 (why it was ever 9:15 I don't know) to 9:00, which messed up the afternoon preschool pickup which I had carefully selected (in January!) to dovetail with the elementary school pickup. I ended up putting my elementary kids on the school bus (at an added, unbudgeted expense), because I couldn't get everyone picked up on time any other way, and that let me pick up my preschooler and still beat the bus home (especially since it was almost always late). Luckily, the bus was an available option at that time.
I agree they have no idea how critical a half hour (or even 15 minutes) can be. They do not live in the real world.
We need a longer school day and a longer school year in this town, and a lot more high quality affordable before and after school child care than is currently available.
Good luck adjusting to the new hours. Our elementary school has Books & Breakfast starting at 8:30, which is free and open to all, on a drop-in basis (you pay for breakfast, but lots of kids eat at home and just go for the books); maybe your school could start such a program as well, and have it start at 8:15.
Agreed
I, too, was shocked to find this information in my Friday folder this holiday weekend, right before leaving for an out of town trip. After all the discussion around the school calendar issues, why haven't I heard anything about this issue before? Again, the goals are worthy, but why aren't those most impacted consulted about these decisions before they are made? My children currently attend D65 childcare for less than an hour in the mornings. My husband drops them off between 7:30 - 7:45 and still doesn't get to work until 9 am. But now they will be attending for 1 1/2 hours. Will there be homework help? Activities such as chess club? It will be too long for some free play and breakfast. Now at 9 am, they will have already been at school for 1 1/2 hours, and will still need childcare in the afternoons. I realize other schools are already in this situation. Perhaps I was just lucky that the schedule of Lincolnwood, fit in better with my family situation. It would have been nice though to have been consulted about this rather than informed of the decision.