Recommendations to FCPS Master Schedule and Annual School Calendar May 28, 2014
Work Group Members • Dan Parris, Interim Deputy Superintendent • Greg Hood, MS Principal, Lead Facilitator • Mark Merrell, HS Principal, Lead Facilitator • Scott Poole, MS Principal, Lead Facilitator • Roger Vanderhye, ES Principal, Lead Facilitator • Angela Atwater, Asst. Superintendent Cluster 6 • Mark Bibbe, Principal ES • Keith Eck, AP ES • Maria Eck, Principal ES • Marie Lemmon, ES Principal • Maxine Manton, Human Resources • Chad McRae, ES Principal • Armando Peri, ES Principal • Sharon Eisenberg, MS Principal • Evan Glazer, HS Principal • Carole Kihm, MS Principal • Angela McCurdy-Pair, Human Resources • Matt Norton, Finance • Evangeline Petrich, Cluster 4 Director • Jay Nocco, Instructional Services • Marcy Kneale Miller, Instructional Services • Laura Robinson, Information Technology • Brandon Wolfe, SE Center Principal
Our Charge To review our current practices for scheduling students at the elementary, middle and high school levels, and make recommendations to the Superintendent that will improve effectiveness and efficiency. 3
Objectives The working group will consider the fundamental philosophy of building a school master schedule and annual calendar that: reflects the values of our division and schools is based on student need is driven by research and data is a collaborative process considers equity K-12 complies with state and federal requirements and anticipates the needs of the future The working group will build practical models for consideration to help shape the strategic direction of the division.
Part 1: Master Schedule 5
Recommendation 1 Make Monday a Full Day for Elementary • Eliminate the early release of elementary students on Mondays. • Provide twenty minutes of recess each day within the regular elementary schedule. • Provide additional resources and policy flexibility at the elementary level to increase teacher-directed planning time. 6
Recommendation 2 Define the Elementary School Day at 410 Minutes • Currently, as defined, the length of the school day varies by level with 400 minutes shown for elementary schools, 410 minutes for middle schools and 405 for high schools. • Align the end of the elementary school day, as described in the current bell schedule, with the conclusion of classroom supervision required of teachers to more accurately reflect instructional time and the work. 7
Recommendation 3 Create Policy Flexibility for Elementary • Where feasible, allow FLES instruction to be included within the TTT specials block. • Where feasible, allow Band, Strings and Choral Music to be included within the TTT specials block and allow students the opportunity to choose from the music experiences. • Where feasible, allow small base classes to be combined for TTT specials block. • Where feasible, focus the current instructional practice of available support personnel including media specialist, technology staff, counselors and assistant principals to provide additional collaborative time for teams. 8
Recommendation 4 Ensure Teacher-Directed Planning Time • Establish a minimum time guideline for team collaboration, where appropriate, to an average of 75 minutes per week over a two week cycle. • Establish a minimum time guideline for teacher-directed planning to an average of 48 minutes per day within the standard instructional school day or 240 minutes per week over a two week rotation. 9
Sample Elementary Schedule 10
Recommendation 5 Budget for Elementary Schedule Change • Invest in staffing positions at the elementary level to meet expectations for collaborative and teacher-directed planning time. • Consider options for increasing TTT, World Languages or other instructional programming to meet these needs. • Estimate the investment at 4 to 7.6 million dollars, depending on the approach, to support these changes with an efficiency offset gain from proposed changes to the annual school calendar. (See calculation estimates under Part 2: Annual School Calendar ) 11
Time for Teachers: World Languages (FLES) 12
Part 2: Annual School Calendar 13
Snow Day History FY1985 through FY2014 • The average number of snow days recorded over the thirty year period was 3.9 days per year. • Snow days ranged from none (1990) to 11 (2014, 2010, 2003). • The snow days used over the past decade has shown an increase. 14
Recommendation 7 Meet State Standards for Accreditation by Hours • Switch from the 180 day option to the 990 hour option for meeting state accreditation requirements. • Ensure that internal operational practices at the high and middle levels meet the 140 hour requirements for core subject areas. • Adopt a new annual school calendar consistent with the requirements specified for a 990 hour standard school year. 15
Recommendation 8 Consider Proposed Versions for School Calendar • School Calendar Version A – Strategic planning days integrated into each quarter. • School Calendar Version B – Strategic planning days frontloaded into school calendar with one planning day on Veteran's Day observance. 16
Proposed Calendar – Version A 17
Proposed Calendar – Version B 18
Estimated Cost Savings with Both Proposals • Annual substitute expenditures for personal and sick leave are budgeted at approximately 18 million or $100,000 per day. • Annual fuel costs are budgeted at approximately 9 million or $50,000 per day. • For the current year, not having to make up five school days would have saved an estimated $750,000. • Estimates applied to any given year, not having to make up one school day would save an estimated minimum of $150,000. • There may be additional savings possible due to contract length adjustments for some support groups as a result of fewer school days. 19
Considerations to Launch Proposal • Engagement of teachers, parents and community stakeholders will be needed to further review and refine the proposal including finding a workable solution for elementary All County Music Programs currently scheduled on Monday afternoons. • Staff will need to recommend a viable program option or options(s) to provide the required time for teachers. • Finance will need to provide a more detailed cost analysis based on the option(s) identified. • Human Resources will need to facilitate the update of appropriate regulations to reflect the proposed changes. • School Board will need to commit the funding needed to support the recommended changes. • Principals will need support in adjusting and planning for the proposed changes. 20
Questions ? 21
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