Extended school day makes up for shortened calendar year
Monday, Aug. 9, 2010
A longer school day will be in place for 2010-2011, in order to make up for a smaller number of calendar days over the course of the school year. The calendar adjustment, approved by the Eudora Board of Education last spring, was just one of many changes that were made to help offset cuts in state funding to school districts
The new calendar has ten fewer school days than last year, said Superintendent of Schools Don Grosdidier, saving the district approximately $100,000 through the elimination of transportation food service and a portion of utilities and other expenses on those days.
"From an educational point of view, reducing instructional days is not a solution that is good for student learning," Grosdidier said. "But this savings method helped preserve staff positions, which helps protects smaller classes and other important programs."
Eight of these days will be non-contract days for teachers and other school employees. The other two will be teacher inservice days; staffing for these days will be handled as with any other teacher inservice day.
To make up for the fewer attendance days, the school day has been extended at each building. EES students will attend school from 8:10 a.m. to 3:25 p.m.; EMS students will attend from 8:05 a.m. to 3:20 p.m.; and EHS students will be in class from 8:15 a.m. to 3:22 p.m.
Download a copy of the 2010-2011 calendar here.
Grosdidier stressed that these changes could be just the beginning, as the budget has yet to stabilize at the state level and the district will lose close to $1 million next year in payments districts typically receive for two years after completing construction projects such as EES.
For more information about the state of the district budget, and to learn what state funding means in Eudora, make plans to attend a community forum at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 12, at EES.
