The Plymouth Schools will move to a balanced calendar for the 2015-2016 school year. The Plymouth School Board had approved going to the new calendar late in 2014, but the particulars of how the calendar would look was extended to the February meeting.
Administrators have shared their belief that changing to a balanced calendar would mean more days in school prior to state testing, increase student and teacher morale, decrease staff and student absences, and decrease discipline referrals. The Plymouth Schools’ model mirrors of other schools using the balanced schedule.
The revised schedule does allow for more instruction time prior to mandatory state testing. Superintendent Daniel Tyree said, “We need to “front load” academics for students to be ready for PSAT, ISTEP and other testing.”
The calendar that includes the state’s required 180 days of instruction includes a start date of August 5 for students. PCSC administrators pointed out when it was approved that it is not considerate a year-round school.
The fall break of five days will be from October 19-23. Other days off will be for Thanksgiving break, November 25-27 and the Quarter 2 (Christmas) break will be from Dec. 21-Jan. 1, a total of ten days.
Spring break would be from March 28-31 (4 days) and April 1-8 (6 days).
The last student day would be May 27 unless there are snow days that would have to be made up. Possible snow makeup days would be June 1-10.
Other days when school would not be in session include: September 4, Professional Development day; Sept. 7, Labor Day; Jan. 4, teacher work day; Jan. 18, Martin Luther King Day; and Feb. 15, President’s Day.
According to a footnote on the calendar: “PCSC plans to make up days virtually starting with the 2015-2016 school year pending the State Board of Education approval. Calendar is also subject to change until the end of the school year depending on State Testing Requirements“.
Prior to bringing the idea to the Board, administrators used radio, newspaper and television coverage to alert parents of three community meetings that were held where the public could ask questions. According to Tyree, surveys from the meetings showed that 75 percent were in favor of going to a balanced schedule and only 23 were opposed. They also held staff meetings in each of the seven buildings in the corporation as well as group meetings at the elementary, middle and high schools levels. Tyree said 86 percent of staff were in favor of the change and only 11 percent were opposed.
Before a final school year calendar could be developed, administrators had to work out professional development days for the teaching staff; determine how to make up days missed due to inclement weather; and work out a base calendar with the vocational cooperative that services several school districts.
Carol Anders Correspondent
