School District 55 has settled on which four days it will cut from the 2010-11 school year and three of them will result in extended weekends for students and staff.
The dates are Nov. 12, Feb. 18, May 27 and June 16. The days were cut as part of an effort to save money after a statewide revenue shortfall led to a $1.1 million local shortfall.
The board approved a list of $1.1 million in cuts. The four furlough days will save approximately $260,000 and help restore items on the reduction list.
The first day, Nov. 12, is a Friday, the day after Veterans’ Day, said Supt. Larry Horton. Students would normally take Veterans’ Day off and return to school the next day.
Feb. 18 is the Friday before a three-day weekend for President’s Day.
May 27 is the Friday before a three-day weekend for Memorial Day.
June 15 will be the last day of school for students and support staff, while teachers will finish grades on June 16, a Thursday, instead of June 17.
“You’ll see a theme,” Horton said. The district is attempting to keep disruptions to a minimum, disrupting students only in weeks where they’re already disrupted.
The teachers, represented by union president Lisa Cannaday; classified support staff, union president Lisa Gourley;
administrators, junior high Principal Hal Huschka; and the School Board, Horton, met to decide which days would be cut,
Horton said.
All three groups of employees have agreed to the furlough days, and Horton will report the final reduction in days to the board at its October meeting.
For more information about the furlough days, call (541) 367-7126.