Why Does FCPS Want That Snow Waiver?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Because it costs $$$$$$$. Something we don't have enough of.

I'm sure it is out there somewhere on the interwebs, but what costs more money if it is the same amount of days just at different intervals? I'm talking about a whole school system, not just doing it at the schools who have to actually stay open the entire time due to remedial camps and such. IIRC, THAT was what doomed the year-round schools that were in Fairfax for a short while.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:It sounds like FCPS admins want to call 5 snow days this year to get that early school start / 'Kings Dominion Law' waiver for next fall.

Why does FCPS want to start school before Labor Day next year? I don't get it.

Mainly for testing reasons, but really why do you want the state to tell you when to start school on time? It should be a local decision. Once they get the waiver, they can decide when school will start.

What's wrong with the state telling the locality when school can start?

The state tells the locality who is licensed as a teacher, it sets the SOL curriculum, etc etc. I'm fine with the State setting the framework of what school should be like.

More than half of the state has the right to decide when to start school. So obviously the state does not think it's important to be in charge of this for educational purposes.

I did not know that.

As a working parent, I would like more than 180 days for school. But starting school early and then having a 3 day Labor Day weekend is nutso for educational purposes.

you mean like the 4 day weekend we just had, then a 2 day week, then multiple days of snow...then 2 more 3 day weekends we're staring at right now?

I went to a school system in MD tat started the week before labor day. It really wasn't a big damn deal.

I don't understand why the entire country hasn't started transitioning to the modified/"year round" calendar. The places that have done this have found ways to make it work with camps and stuff running during break times.

Because it costs $$$$$$$. Something we don't have enough of.

How does it cost more money if the students are in school the same amount of time?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:It sounds like FCPS admins want to call 5 snow days this year to get that early school start / 'Kings Dominion Law' waiver for next fall.

Why does FCPS want to start school before Labor Day next year? I don't get it.

Mainly for testing reasons, but really why do you want the state to tell you when to start school on time? It should be a local decision. Once they get the waiver, they can decide when school will start.

What's wrong with the state telling the locality when school can start?

The state tells the locality who is licensed as a teacher, it sets the SOL curriculum, etc etc. I'm fine with the State setting the framework of what school should be like.

More than half of the state has the right to decide when to start school. So obviously the state does not think it's important to be in charge of this for educational purposes.

I did not know that.

As a working parent, I would like more than 180 days for school. But starting school early and then having a 3 day Labor Day weekend is nutso for educational purposes.

you mean like the 4 day weekend we just had, then a 2 day week, then multiple days of snow...then 2 more 3 day weekends we're staring at right now?

I went to a school system in MD tat started the week before labor day. It really wasn't a big damn deal.

I don't understand why the entire country hasn't started transitioning to the modified/"year round" calendar. The places that have done this have found ways to make it work with camps and stuff running during break times.

Because it costs $$$$$$$. Something we don't have enough of.

How does it cost more money if the students are in school the same amount of time?

Probably more money in facilities costs - gotta maintain day-to-day things (temperature, trash) throughout year versus significantly cutting back in the summer.

Also likely staffing costs. It's not the pay but the benefits due to full time employment throughout the year.

[Anonymous]

See, that's bs. Modified calendar isn't actually year round. You still get 6 weeks in the summer in most scenarios. Plus, schools in the south open in August - usually the hottest damn month. I don't buy the facilities cost argument at all.

And again, the contracts would be slightly revised, but the teachers aren't working additional time. It is just distributed differently.

[Anonymous]

It did cost more b/c they used the 2 or 3 week breaks to offer "intercessions" -- which are either fun courses or time to do remedial classes with kids who are showing signs of struggling. It was optional to attend either one (the fun classes and the remedial). I don't recall if they charged a fee for the fun classes.... I think they did. There was no fee for the remedial.

Not everyone would use the intercessions, but obviously, it was good for people who wanted to work and have a place for their kids. It was also good for teachers who wanted to earn extra $ and it was good for teachers who wanted a break (they had the choice). It was also good for families that wanted to vacation on off times.

Pretty much all around, it was good... except that it does cost more.

Also --contrary to popular belief... August is NOT the hottest month of the year. July is. http://www.nbc12.com/story/15076769/heat-lag-hottest-time-of-year-starting-now

As for hot... Schools in Florida, which I'm pretty sure we can agree is a warmer state than VA -- start around Aug. 20. And since all FCPS schools have AC, it really isn't any trouble to start in Aug (temperature wise). In fact, it is often hotter in mid June than it is in late Aug.

[Anonymous]

The intercessions were because they were doing those at title 1 schools. I think they are great, personally, but they aren't a done deal for a modified calendar.

Pretty sure I have friends in fl whose kids were starting school first week of August. I know my cousin's kids in ga do.

[Anonymous]

The modified calendar discussion is not related to FCPS wanting a snow waiver. They can do that with or without the waiver. We want FCPS to have the waiver because most of Virginia counties now have received the waiver and we want to be able to control our school schedule locally.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The modified calendar discussion is not related to FCPS wanting a snow waiver. They can do that with or without the waiver. We want FCPS to have the waiver because most of Virginia counties now have received the waiver and we want to be able to control our school schedule locally.

Yes, it is off topic. Sorry. But I do wonder if we might be able to arrange it to help with the winter vs summer dilemma.