Hoosier State Press Association - The Indiana Publisher - Better Newspaper Contest
Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/96748
Division 1 Best In-Depth Feature or Feature Package/Category 10 First place Balancing act Amanda Matlock, The Times-Post (Pendleton) Comments: A lot of time and energy went into writing this story, and the work shows in a great article on changes to school calendar. Second place Backstage pass Amanda Matlock, The Times-Post (Pendleton) Comments: Those who enjoy theater know a lot goes on behind the scenes. Backstage pass lets others know this fact too. Third place Crime & redemption Amanda Matlock, The Times-Post (Pendleton) Comments: Great job of learning what really goes on behind the prison walls. Balancing act Amanda Matlock The Times-Post (Pendleton) Like many schools across the state, South Madison Community School Corp. is considering switching from the traditional school year to what educators call a ���balanced calendar.��� The idea of changing the dates when school would be in session has created some angst among those with children in the district. ���We���ve heard concerns from parents who think we���re headed towards year round schooling,��� SMCSC Superintendent Joe Buck said. ���There are also parents who are concerned with finding childcare during the longer breaks.��� A balanced calendar essentially would shorten the summer break by three weeks and lengthen fall and spring breaks to 10 days each. The re-arrangement of days would mean students would have at least a two-week break at the end of each nine-week grading period. School would run from Aug. 1 to May 31, and the proposed calendar would have a total of 12 make-up days, for snow or emergency schools closures, built into the calendar. The first mention of a balanced calendar came at the regularly scheduled meeting Oct. 9; since then, the school corporation has been abuzz with rumors and opinions. SMCSC Superintendent Joe Buck wants parents, students and teachers to know one thing when discussing the new balanced calendar. ���This is 100 percent not year round schooling,��� Buck said. ���This is just a rearrangement of the 180 days of school.��� The Indiana Department of Education requires each school corporation to have children attend 180 days of school. Buck said other schools in the area, including Greenfield-Central, had already adopted a balanced calendar. ���If we would be on the same calendar as surrounding schools, we would be able to more easily share resources,��� Buck said. But there are substantial reasons other districts are making the change. SMCSC Assistant Superintendent Sandra Hudson said she was ���pretty neutral��� and trying to stay open-minded about the possibility of a balanced calendar. However, ���I think it could be a benefit to the corporation,��� Hudson said. ���I���ve heard that it helps attendance rates, and I like the concept of being able to refresh the mind.��� Studies show many benefits Page 16 to a balanced calendar, including a boosted attendance rate, improved standardized test scores and better knowledge retention. ���Research shows summer learning loss is a real issue for at risk students,��� Hudson said. ���Studies show a balanced calendar would allow a potential gain in academic achievement if the summer downtime is reduced, which would allow for better retention. Also, two week breaks would allow time to refresh mental focus.��� Of all the potential advantages, Buck said students��� ability to retain information would be a big factor when discussing the possible switch. ���The big question is if this type of calendar would help students with increased levels of learning retention,��� Buck said. ���Meaning more frequent and shorter breaks could help a student retain more content.��� Buck said he also believes the new calendar would help with student and staff absenteeism. ���Attendance rates increase in a balanced calendar because it would be easier to set appointments up over breaks,��� Buck said. ���Meaning students and staff don���t have to take as much time off.��� When discussing disadvantages to the balanced calendar, Buck said the main drawback would be a shorter summer vacation. ���You would lose about two and half weeks from your summer vacation,��� Buck said. ���Because of that, the summer job period would be shortened.��� He added that shorter summer vacation could also have a negative impact on extracurricular activities, as far as practice schedules and contest dates. One thing that would not be affected by a possible calendar change is graduation. ���Commencement would take place on June 2,��� Buck said. ���So graduation would not be moved back.��� Buck added that the Classroom Teachers Association is on-board for a calendar change. ���The majority are in favor and feel it would be an advantage academically to our students,��� Buck said. ���These longer breaks can be mentally refreshing for students.��� SMCSC School Board President Chris Boots said he���s waiting to make a decision about a balanced calendar until he attends the informational meetings. ���I don���t really know how I feel about a balanced calendar yet,��� Boots said. ���Basically the board is waiting to hear from the community until we make any decisions.��� Boots added that the board has no intention on voting about the balanced calendar until all parents, teachers and students are given the opportunity to discuss the changes at meetings. ���The board has made no decisions at this time,��� Boots said. ���My opinion will be based off the feedback that I���ll hear from parents, students, teachers and administrators.��� Boots added that he has talked to his four children about the possible calendar switch. ���I���ve heard a lot of positive feedback from all of them,��� Boots said. ���Those breaks would give the kids a goal to shoot for.��� He added that while his children are in favor of the switch, there are pros and cons to the possible calendar change. ���There are many things to consider,��� Boots said. ���I���m looking forward to the (informational) meetings.��� Buck and other school employees will be conducting four upcoming educational meetings for parents, students and teachers. The dates for these meetings are: Nov. 9, Pendleton Elementary School ��� Primary, 6:30 p.m. Nov. 10, East Elementary School, 6:30 p.m. Nov. 14, Pendleton Heights High School, 6:30 p.m. Nov. 15, Maple Ridge Elementary School, 6:30 p.m. Buck, who said he has not taken a side on the calendar issue, said his job is to inform the public and the board about the possibilities of a balanced calendar. ���My stance, as I state in my presentation, is that if there is merit to what other school corporations are doing, I feel we must at least consider the advantages,��� Buck said. ���I���m trying to stay as open minded as possible.��� To address the concern about child care during the longer breaks, Hudson said the Kids Connection, a before and after school childcare program offered at the district���s three elementary schools, most likely would stay open during longer breaks as a childcare option. ���It would be our intention to have Kids Connection open as an option for parents,��� Hudson said. Current rates for Kids Connection are $55 weekly for before and after school care and $21 per day during winter and spring breaks. There is also a $25 registration fee. Discounts are available for additional children. For more information on Kids Connection, call 765-425-0211.