Empower Hour... 30 minutes added to school day

[Innocent Bystander]

No ....meant "rebel" - even if out of context, but rebel suffices for rebellion.

Just a quibble...you can't rouse a rebel. By definition, a rebel is already roused. That's why they're a REBEL. And a rebel is singular. Rabble rousing means getting a whole, previously uninvolved, group "roused", or ready for action. "Rebel rouser" means one person, who's already against whatever is the subject, more jazzed up than they were. RABBLE rouser means getting a GROUP of people charged up about something.

[mountain gal]

The night I went before the board I was a party of one.

[MT.DEW]

After talking with elementary teachers it is my understanding that many in this system only have 4 thirty minute planning periods a week. These teachers prep for :science, English grammar, English reading, math, social studies, and health. They must flex these lessons for kids who do not speak English, kids with special needs, kids who have disabilities etc. They must do extra assessments and provide documentation which consists of their own data plus student samples up to 2x per grading period in addition to their regular grades and assessments.

I am not sure adding another 30 minutes to their day is a good idea. Someone has to supervise, provide materials and plan these sessions and there is no one else at school to do that but the teachers. One more 30 minute class, same number of teachers- how is it that the teachers are going to get more planning? Who is going to tutor these kids- their teachers. Some one on staff will be responsible for these kids during the school day and someone will be required to provide documentation on each kid and what they were doing during this period-right?  I bet the staff will also have to provide information to the kid's parents like progress reports for this extra period. They have to justify it so there has to be documentation which means more work for somebody.

Now at the high schools they get 90 minutes planning every day and they only teach 3 classes in which some teachers have the same courses so they may only have 1 prep. It is also my understanding that they do not have to do the number of assessments the elementary have. Even if a high school teacher gives a test/project once a week to 80 kids they should be able to grade them within the 450 minutes of weekly planning time generally speaking. Why do teachers of k-8 have far less planning? I am not in favor of taking away the high school planning periods or making them shorter as I am sure they will respond adamantly about justifying the 90 minutes. I am worried that the elementary folks are receiving less planning. I thought elementary teachers had a planning period every day but I have been told that is not the case in our county.

[munn5]

The addition to the school day is only for Chatham Central next year. High school teachers teach 3 of 4 periods a day, so they have a 90 min prep period.

When the discussion of lengthening the school day was first raised, Mr. Hamm and Mr. Leonard were both concerned about how it would work in elementary schools, with the same concerns raised here.

It looks like this will happen for Chatham Central - your only opportunity for input (besides the month since it was first raised) is Monday's school board meeting.

[Bearlover]

A teacher's day at school technically is 7.5 hours.  At the high schools, we are required to be there from 7:45 a.m. to 3:15 p.m.  (As you know, it is rare that a teacher leaves at 3:15).  It is my understanding that the hours at CCHS are still 7:45-3:15, however, classes will begin at 7:50 and end at 3:10.  Therefore, no hours are being added to the teachers' requirement, but the students will have 20 extra minutes added.  Also, it is my understanding that the 13 minute break they now have between 1st and 2nd periods will be dropped.

A newsletter went home with the students on Friday, May 28, with some of this information.

I was told that this was approved by the School Improvment Team.  The teachers were prepped somewhat and had some input through the School Improvment Team.  There are still a lot of questions and concerns.  If this works, then great!  If it doesn't, I hope we have sense enough to scrap it. 

[munn5]

At the meeting tonight, the school board approved extended the school day at Chatham Central by 20 minutes next year to allow for Empower Hour. Starting after the 3rd week progress reports, students with an 80% in all classes will have an hour for lunch, with activities (such as astronomy club, non-traditional sports, AP study sessions, shag dancing) for part of that time. Students with <80% in a class will have a 30 minute lunch and a 30 minute study session. As Mr. Stancil described it, they will try to prep the students for new topics rather than just remediate when they are having trouble.

Mr. Stancil admitted that there is some teacher opposition, mostly around how it will affect the adults. The teachers agree that it should benefit the students. The parents were notified 2 weeks ago, and Mr. Stancil said he has not had any negative responses. (Mr. Leonard said one parent of an A student contacted him with the concern that there would be more time for kids to get into trouble with a longer lunch.) It was described by someone at the economic development meeting (with Gov Perdue) to Deb McManus as "a bold initiative".

This will be a pilot. During the next year, the district will look at how it's working at Chatham Central and consider whether it should be expanded. (A good approach, in my opinion.)

[hulahoop]

I hope before they do this anywhere else they think it through a lot better than they have so far and get a lot more feedback from the impacted folks.

[Bearlover]

Ms. Munn, please call the principal of CCHS by his correct name: Mr. Stensland. 

This bold initiative is already in practice at Manteo High School, from whom Mr. Stensland learned of the program working effectively there.  Manteo High School is slightly smaller than CCHS in regard to enrollment.  I think they have around 440 students.

[munn5]

Bearlover, You are correct - I didn't have his name written down, and I guessed at the spelling.  Also, thanks for mentioning the program at Manteo. Mr. Stensland also mentioned a similar program at Eastern Guilford and Pleasant Valley HS (don't know where that is).

Also (it's late - I need to read my notes more carefully) there will be a meeting for Chatham Central parents and students to explain the schedule in more detail sometime in July. By having the study sessions during the day, the need for afterschool tutoring should be greatly reduced.

Hulahoop - the opportunity to influence whether this idea will be implemented in other schools is now. If you wait till the proposal is made at a board meeting, it will really be too late.

[hulahoop]

I don't care how bold the initiative is or where else they're using it, if they want it to work they better get the teacher on board, and if they want the teachers on board they better rethink their approach to it, big time.  This is being pushed through too fast.  At the recent TAC meeting it was described as still in the planning stages, and  now here we have it going through next year!  Is chatham going to be a district that takes advantage of the recession to exploit teachers?  If so, expect a lot of turn over when the economy turns around, and that's a LOT more destructive than 20 fewer minutes on the school day!!

[hulahoop]

teachers are stake holders in this and their input should be SOLICITED.  they should NOT have to go out of their way to give it or wait until a school board meeting when it is "too late."  let's remember when the meeting where this was "discussed" was held - in the middle of the school day!

I don't care if you get my opinion on it, but for heck's sake, get teacher's opinions!!!!  Mr. Logan SAID he was going to go around to all of the school's and get feedback.  apparently he lied? 

[mamamia]

Is chatham going to be a district that takes advantage of the recession to exploit teachers?  If so, expect a lot of turn over when the economy turns around, and that's a LOT more destructive than 20 fewer minutes on the school day!!

This is it. I am so sick of hearing: just be glad you have a job as the answer to anyone who disagrees about anything.
I don't know if the Empower Hour is a good idea or not - I only know that if I worked at that school and I was told I had to work an extra 20 min/day plus I had an extra prep AND I got no extra money for my time...I'd be plenty pissed. And I get that they were already required to be at school during that time, but they were no doubt doing other things - like grading, meeting, planning, tutoring - all of which will be pushed back 20 more minutes.
If I were a kid this would be one more reason school sucked.
m

[artymarty]

I think in theory it is good for kids.  It offers an opportunity for both remediation AND enrichment.

What is not good for kids is being stuck with teachers who are demotivated, bitter and feeling used.  It's clear that is how at least some of our teachers are feeling and I hope that will be addressed!

[Concern]

I find it interesting that when children and schools are involved, a public uprising begins.

Where is the public for the last two years when your county workers, sheriff, fire department, water, health etc. are not given raises. Was there input from these folks???  I believe the commissioners received a raise, and several "critical" positions were added???

You all need to get your heads out of the sand and look around at what is happing to your county as a whole!

[mamamia]

Uh...well...this is the SCHOOL forum and we're talking about something happening in the SCHOOLS.
So if the plight of other public servants bothers you, talk about that in the CHATHAM COUNTY forum.
Dur.
m

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