Posted by Len Mullen on June 18, 2010 at 21:40:24:
from http://www.vimeo.com/12676495
We celebrated a calendar which put education above time off just a couple months ago. That celebration may have been premature. Thursday, Danville's senior school board member attacked the 180 day calendar. When Jack Paone challenged this unusual parliamentary procedure, the chair asked Mr. La Salle, "Do you know what our lawyers would say?" Of course La Salle confirmed that he thought there was a loophole. Only Danville's two members were base enough to try to exploit the loophole. Looks like the 180 Day Calendar survives until the school board reconvenes in the fall.
My favorite part of the discussion is when a board asks if more teaching was lost by keeping the kids in the classroom vs having early release. Director of elementary edducation Killi Killen stated that the kids would lose more by being in class than by being at home. I'm not sure I disagree.
FWIW, I apologize for endorsing for Mrs. Steenson. I should have investigated her character instead of relying on an opinion based on a her performance on a single issue.
* note to self. student rep says days with a substitute is like a day off. Remember this when talking to La Salle about average 12 sick days per year for teachers.