Editor:
Has the Sweet Home School District been hijacked by the four-day school week?
On May 13 at 6:30 p.m., the School Board will decide to stay with the four-day or return to a five-day school week.
Once again, a survey was done in the community. I would like to share some results. Question 11 was, “Under the four-day school week schedule, teachers are able to cover the curriculum effectively.”
Nine administrators responded. Five agreed. Three disagreed. One had no opinion.
Eighty-one licensed staff voted. Thirty-two percent agreed, and 68 percent disagreed.
Seventy-seven classified staff members voted. Fourteen percent agreed, and 82 percent disagreed, while 4 percent had no opinion.
Two hundred twelve parents voted. Thirty-six percent agreed, and 56 percent disagreed, while 8 percent had no opinion.
Fifty-five community members voted. Thirty-one percent agreed, and 64 percent disagreed, while 5 percent had no opinion.
The first two listed have me concerned the most. If they feel they can’t teach it in four days, why are we not listening to them? Sweet Home looked at the four-day last year because of money problems not because children get a better education.
Last year, the picture was painted to look pretty ugly for school funding. We were told to cut well over $1 million. There was no light at the end of the tunnel being shown. Staff had already taken four furlough days. We had already cut what could be spared. The four-day week solution was the only thing seriously looked at that could save Sweet Home. The vote was done, and the four-day won 6-3. The very next day I was informed that the school funding picture had somehow improved and not to worry.
This was to become true. K-12 funding went from $5.7 billion to a proposed $6.5 billion. This is a 12 percent increase in funding.
Some things that have occurred since last year’s vote to go to a four-day is that the furlough days were added back. The superintendent, certified union and administrators all have negotiated future advancements costing the district close to $100,000 combined.
A quote from a local newspaper: “The district has saved an estimated $300,000. Under the new schedule, Schrader said, about $100,000 less than was first estimated.” That is a 25-percent reduction in savings.
Survey question 10: The four-day school week creates a financial hardship on families to pay for additional child care on Fridays when school is not in session.
Fifty-eight percent agreed, and 17 percent disagreed, while 25 percent held no opinion.
Survey question 18: We project considerable savings from moving to the four-day school week. To go back to a five-day schedule the district would need to consider other budget reductions, program cuts, raise class sizes, suspend textbook and/or computer purchases, etc. Which schedule do you prefer the district use next year?
Fifty-three percent indicated to stay four-day, and 46 percent indicated to go with a five-day.
The question will be used during the vote at the next board meeting in favor staying with the four-day school week. All 18 questions were released by Supt. Don Schrader, who came from a four-day week district before he was hired in Sweet Home. He is quoted in saying about the survey, “In reviewing these results, overall there does not seem to be a strong push to go back to a five-day school week. But then again, there were only 421 responses.”
I wonder what the results of question 18 would have been if the state funding of K-12 at $6.5 billion was somehow entered fairly into the question.
I ask anyone who does not want Sweet Home School District to stay with the four-day to come down to the Central Office on Monday, May 13 at 6:15 p.m. The meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. sharp. After the Pledge of Allegiance, the board gives the public three minutes each to address the board. Let your elected officials know what you want.
I look forward to meeting you.
These have been my own words and opinions and in no way speak on behalf of the Sweet Home School Board.
Hijacked in Sugar City,
Chanz Keeney
School Board, Zone One, Holley