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The study of year-round education for kindergarten through eighth grade in
Sisters has been assigned to a task force of educators and parents by
Superintendent Steve Swisher.
Swisher said the Elementary Site Council, comprised mainly of teachers and
parents, and the Middle School Transition Team were directed to review several
options for year-round education and prepare a draft implementation plan for
review by December 15.
Swisher took the action following instructions from the Sisters School Board
last month to prepare for year-round school beginning as soon as the 1997-98
school year.
While overcrowding of the schools may become an issue in the study, Swisher
said the overriding concern is for improvements in education.
In a memorandum to the school board last Friday, Swisher said, "It is important
to keep in mind that there is substantial evidence that indicates achievement
in language arts and math improves when there are not long breaks in student
instructional schedules. This is particularly true for students performing in
the lower half of the spectrum. There appears to be a compelling reason to
adopt an alternative calendar for instructional purposes regardless of our
facility needs."
Two implementation plans have been requested, one to become effective if a
school bond issue passes next March and the second plan to be used if the issue
fails.
Implementation Plan "A" should be based, he said, "on the assumption that we
pass a bond election next March. This would allow a new school or a major
renovation and space addition at the current Elementary School/District Office
complex...This plan should be an `Alternative-Single Track' calendar."
Implementation Plan "B" should be based on the assumption that the bond issue
does not pass.
"This would mean minor renovation to the district office area for conversion to
classrooms and a busing schedule that would transport middle school students to
the high school for a portion of their weekly schedule," Swisher wrote.
"The busing would allow middle school students access to the shops, arts and
crafts room and the technology and computer labs. This plan should be
based on an `Alternative-Multi Track' calendar. This is necessary to deal
with overcrowding."
Swisher said the assumptions for both plans "should be based on current
staffing levels and budget expenditures for supplies and equipment."
Several concepts of year-round education will be reviewed by the task group. To
make certain everyone is "talking apples and apples," Swisher has provided
members with a list of definitions.
The superintendent said because of the impacts on the community, it also is
important that parents and other community members become acquainted with the
terms being used:
* YRE - Year-round Education: the generic term for a variety of school calendar
options and instructional practices that schedules students beyond the
traditional September-to-June instructional schedule.
* Traditional Calendar: the current school calendar.
* Alternative Calendar: taking the current instructional days and rearranging
them throughout the year. The intent is to reduce the length of the long summer
break and to take multiple shorter breaks throughout the year. The purpose is
to reduce the amount of relearning needed after a two- to three-month break.
* Extended Calendar: adding instructional days to the calendar, in either an
alternative or traditional format.
* Single Track System: school calendar that has all of the students attending
school on the same days for instructional purposes. This could be either
traditional or alternative calendar. Sisters is currently on a
Traditional-Single Track Calendar.
* Multi-Track System: a school calendar that has a portion of students on break
while others are receiving instruction. There are common times around holidays
when all students are on break and usually one other slightly extended time (3
to 4 weeks) when all student are on break.
