Brady Happenings

School board considers abandoning four-day week

Altermate schedule to be re-evaluated

by Deb Egenberger

April 17, 2008

Changing to a four-day school week seemed like a solid money-saving idea three years ago without causing academic repercussions.

School board members are no longer entirely convinced, though, that the four-day week is the best option.

During their regular monthly meeting Monday night, K-12 principal Gerald Wallace presented the board with a proposed calendar for the 2008-09 school year.

It follows the same four-day schedule the district has used since approving the alternative at mid-term in 2005.

The first day of school would be Aug. 13 with summer dismissal on May 21, 2009.

“I feel shackled by this four-day week,” Wallace told the board.

Traditional school schedules are 36 weeks of instruction, Wallace said, with two 18-week semesters.

With the four-day school week, Brady is doing in 159 or 160 days what most schools do in 180, Wallace said.

“We’re asking our students to work productively from 7:45 in the morning until 4 in the afternoon,” he said.

Board member Tyrone Shaw said the four-day school week idea was accepted on the concept it would save the district approximately $3,000 per month while causing no detriment in the classroom.

“I think the savings were over-sold,” he said.

Other board members agreed.

“I think the four-day week needs to be re-evaluated,” said Jim Hotz.

Long-time board member Harry Haythorn offered another opinion.

“We’re still a small school,” he said. “The four-day week offers us some flexibility. For instance, our Friday school concept wouldn’t be possible if we went back to five-day weeks.”

Friday school is extra instructional time for students who are struggling in classes.

Wallace told the board that teachers will be surveyed and since the calendar proposal is much earlier than in past years, there is still time for discussion.

In other business, the school board:

• accepted resignations from K-8 special education teacher Amy Heitman and business/technology teacher Jacqui Garrison.

• accepted a matching grant from the state’s Waste Reduction and Recycling Incentive Fund for $5,214. The grant will be used to help pay for resurfacing part of the playground area with crushed tires.

• approved spending $1,000 on new weight room equipment rather than paying that amount to coaches who supervise weight room use during the summer, at the coaches’ request.

• discussed a rotating replacement schedule for athletic uniforms. The rotation will be presented as an action item next month. The Talon Power booster club has agreed to match the school’s cost for uniform replacement up to $1,500 annually.

• learned an interlocal agreement with the Village of Brady is nearly complete. The agreement spells out the school’s responsibility in the labor and cost of taking care of Palmer Park, which is used for football and track practices. It also covers snow removal at the school. A final agreement should be ready in May.

• learned three additional John R. Applegate grants have been awarded to faculty members. Science teacher Steve Nicholson received $600 to take junior high students on a field trip to the waste water treatment plant and fish hatchery in North Platte, Kelly Dachtler will receive $875 for a video projector and Jacqui Garrison will get $3,000 for a mobile interactive white board and cart.

• heard a presentation from Wallace about a possible community fund or foundation. Legal formation of a community fund, with a board of directors, would allow tax deductible contributions to be made to for school and community projects.

• set a special meeting for Monday, April 28, to discuss Daryl Johnson Scholarship applications.