Seaford, M'pqa Make-up Days

[Chris_Wendt]

Both Seaford and Massapequa Boards of Education have resolved the make-up days from Hurricane Sandy and the Nor'easter.

Massapequa canceled the February recess.

Seaford canceled several groups of days, because of some really bad legacy language in their Teacher Contract which prohibited them from outright canceling the February recess. Seaford is now at-risk in the event of future closures for snow this coming winter.

Will wonders never cease?

Regards

Chris Wendt

[lilly]

I don't understand why instructional time isn't maximized, Sandy or not.

For example, the HSers will have a week off in January (MLK Day plus 4 Regents days) for the few kids that take Regents exams. Is there a NYS law against holding classes for the vast majority of kids who don't take Regents exams that week? Kids who take AP classes have heavy workload requirements that I suspect will not be waived by the College Board.

At the HS level, non-Regents final exams are given in class, prior to the 9 days of scheduled Regents test days. That is another loss of instructional time. Why?

All told, there are 13 Regents exams days that are counted as part of the required 180 days. I'd guesstimate at least 1/2 of them are in essence just days off for kids.

In Sept. there was a big to-do from one Wantagh elem principal protesting APPR and state testing. A letter went home suggesting no class trips and in class celebrations to maximize instructional time for state testing. Post-Sandy, there is no mention of those concerns and the kids go back to a series of 1/2 days for parent teacher conferences. I don't get it! Why weren't the 1/2 days converted to full instructional days and parent teacher conferences moved to the evening if there is so much concern for instructional time?

Is it NYS regs, teacher contracts or both that cause this?

[Kera]

To answer your question about the week off in January for Regents exams- I do not believe there is a state law against holding classes during this time. In Massapequa HS that is their "midterm week" and they canceled that before they even took away the February recess. The HS students will now have regularly scheduled classes during that time.

[lilly]

Thanks for the info.