The Nugget Newspaper - News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon

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.