FCPS 2018-2019 school calendar?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Private pools should not dictate the school calendar.

The best interests of the students and their education should be the first priority of the school board, with teachers' needs being second.

The sustainability of private clubs should be irrelevant to the school board's obligations. But, for those of you who prioritize pools -- I'm sure Megan McLaughlin will be voicing your opinions to the board. She was against starting Aug. 28th. I'm sure she'll be against starting any earlier. FWIW, there were several on the school board last time who asked if at least some schools could start 2 weeks earlier. They were told no. The board did discuss going two weeks earlier (instead of 1 week) and it was decided that they would ease into the "before Labor Day" start by doing only one week prior... at first. There was support for starting two weeks earlier but they didn't want to take 2 weeks off summer break to start that first year.

So we need a waiver because of the Kings Dominion law, but local pools should not be considered? They are a factor. They should not dictate anything, but they can be a factor in considering when to start school.

[Anonymous]

But what is the school board's objective? Start sooner to teach to the SOLs? And I still don't understand how the built in school days work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Private pools should not dictate the school calendar.

The best interests of the students and their education should be the first priority of the school board, with teachers' needs being second.

The sustainability of private clubs should be irrelevant to the school board's obligations. But, for those of you who prioritize pools -- I'm sure Megan McLaughlin will be voicing your opinions to the board. She was against starting Aug. 28th. I'm sure she'll be against starting any earlier. FWIW, there were several on the school board last time who asked if at least some schools could start 2 weeks earlier. They were told no. The board did discuss going two weeks earlier (instead of 1 week) and it was decided that they would ease into the "before Labor Day" start by doing only one week prior... at first. There was support for starting two weeks earlier but they didn't want to take 2 weeks off summer break to start that first year.

How long does the waiver last? It just seems very haphazard to start one week early this year, 2 weeks early next year, and then possibly back to after Labor Dayafter that. I know we need to do what’s best for the students, but there should some consistency from year to year. It makes me a bit crazy not knowing from one year to the next, when School will start or end.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Private pools should not dictate the school calendar.

The best interests of the students and their education should be the first priority of the school board, with teachers' needs being second.

The sustainability of private clubs should be irrelevant to the school board's obligations. But, for those of you who prioritize pools -- I'm sure Megan McLaughlin will be voicing your opinions to the board. She was against starting Aug. 28th. I'm sure she'll be against starting any earlier. FWIW, there were several on the school board last time who asked if at least some schools could start 2 weeks earlier. They were told no. The board did discuss going two weeks earlier (instead of 1 week) and it was decided that they would ease into the "before Labor Day" start by doing only one week prior... at first. There was support for starting two weeks earlier but they didn't want to take 2 weeks off summer break to start that first year.

How long does the waiver last? It just seems very haphazard to start one week early this year, 2 weeks early next year, and then possibly back to after Labor Dayafter that. I know we need to do what’s best for the students, but there should some consistency from year to year. It makes me a bit crazy not knowing from one year to the next, when School will start or end.

I said this upthread:
"All school divisions must certify annually that they meet one of the criteria above for a pre-Labor Day opening waiver or that they will not open prior to Labor Day."

With winters like last year, I could see us not meeting the criteria in the future ...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:But what is the school board's objective? Start sooner to teach to the SOLs? And I still don't understand how the built in school days work.

And why can’t FCPS figure this out? No other county around here keeps changing its calendar so much every year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:But what is the school board's objective? Start sooner to teach to the SOLs? And I still don't understand how the built in school days work.

It is somewhat about the SOLs, but it is more about those nationally dictated tests where the dates are set for all kids in the US -- i.e. AP tests and SATs. Kids in other districts around the US start several weeks before FCPS (when we did Labor Day start), so those kids have an edge when they take the AP tests. They get out of school Mid May.... when makes sense b/c they do the AP tests and then they are done. We, in FCPS, still make kids go to school a month or 1.5 months after the AP tests. That doesn't make a lot of sense.

Might as well take advantage of the "back to school" enthusiasm that kids have in late Aug (and then get out in early June) rather than having more weeks in June when everyone has checked out for the summer. It just makes sense to me to front-load the school year rather than back-load it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Private pools should not dictate the school calendar.

The best interests of the students and their education should be the first priority of the school board, with teachers' needs being second.

The sustainability of private clubs should be irrelevant to the school board's obligations. But, for those of you who prioritize pools -- I'm sure Megan McLaughlin will be voicing your opinions to the board. She was against starting Aug. 28th. I'm sure she'll be against starting any earlier. FWIW, there were several on the school board last time who asked if at least some schools could start 2 weeks earlier. They were told no. The board did discuss going two weeks earlier (instead of 1 week) and it was decided that they would ease into the "before Labor Day" start by doing only one week prior... at first. There was support for starting two weeks earlier but they didn't want to take 2 weeks off summer break to start that first year.

How long does the waiver last? It just seems very haphazard to start one week early this year, 2 weeks early next year, and then possibly back to after Labor Dayafter that. I know we need to do what’s best for the students, but there should some consistency from year to year. It makes me a bit crazy not knowing from one year to the next, when School will start or end.

Right now the waiver lasts through the 2019-2020 school year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Options A and B-no way. So they shortened summer last year and want to shorten it again this year? Wow. That's harsh. Kids in sports and band would start camps a week earlier-that means near the end of July? Weather can't always been depended on in early June. We like to buy a pool membership but probably would not if options A or B were chosen. We would barely make use of it. It was bad enough they started before Labor Day this year. It was tough for my kids and a lot of other kids I know.

The pools are empty in Augist.

Not that pool use should be the metric -- but they are empty in August because (1) everyone has had enough swim time by then and it's old news, and (2) many people leave town for vacations in Aug b/c Congress shuts down. So, yes, pools are generally not very full in Aug. People are excited about summer in June/right after Memorial Day. By August, they are looking toward the next thing and summer is a has-been.

The pools are packed in June and empty in August.

Pools are not going to lose any business by fcps starting mid August

Somebody upthread said they wouldn’t join if the season was shortened.

[Anonymous]

For me I think they should just stop moving the goal post. If you're going to make a change give a lot of notice - now is already too late for next year. Then decide what you are going to do and stick with it. Stop changing it every year. Give the families some consistency they can count on.

[Anonymous]

Option C. I think moving the start date two weeks before Labor Day is a bit extreme without knowing that FCPS will be able to get a waiver beyond 2019-2020 or have the law changed.

From a family vacation schedule, the end of August was/is the best time to get deals bc so many other schools are back in session. You don't get that same benefit from going in early June - peak season begins after Memorial Day. Plus, the Atlantic Ocean is still chilly in early June, and much warmer at the end of August (for the beach goers).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Options A and B-no way. So they shortened summer last year and want to shorten it again this year? Wow. That's harsh. Kids in sports and band would start camps a week earlier-that means near the end of July? Weather can't always been depended on in early June. We like to buy a pool membership but probably would not if options A or B were chosen. We would barely make use of it. It was bad enough they started before Labor Day this year. It was tough for my kids and a lot of other kids I know.

The pools are empty in Augist.

Not that pool use should be the metric -- but they are empty in August because (1) everyone has had enough swim time by then and it's old news, and (2) many people leave town for vacations in Aug b/c Congress shuts down. So, yes, pools are generally not very full in Aug. People are excited about summer in June/right after Memorial Day. By August, they are looking toward the next thing and summer is a has-been.

The pools are packed in June and empty in August.

Pools are not going to lose any business by fcps starting mid August

Somebody upthread said they wouldn’t join if the season was shortened.

Not a pool person, but couldn't they just adjust the price of the pool to something less and let people know about it, if the summer is shorter?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Option C. I think moving the start date two weeks before Labor Day is a bit extreme without knowing that FCPS will be able to get a waiver beyond 2019-2020 or have the law changed.

From a family vacation schedule, the end of August was/is the best time to get deals bc so many other schools are back in session. You don't get that same benefit from going in early June - peak season begins after Memorial Day. Plus, the Atlantic Ocean is still chilly in early June, and much warmer at the end of August (for the beach goers).

Option C is actually the latest start, at least according to page 3 of this thread.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Option C. I think moving the start date two weeks before Labor Day is a bit extreme without knowing that FCPS will be able to get a waiver beyond 2019-2020 or have the law changed.

From a family vacation schedule, the end of August was/is the best time to get deals bc so many other schools are back in session. You don't get that same benefit from going in early June - peak season begins after Memorial Day. Plus, the Atlantic Ocean is still chilly in early June, and much warmer at the end of August (for the beach goers).

Option C is actually the latest start, at least according to page 3 of this thread.

Yes. The post you quoted acknowledged that.

[Anonymous]

Seems a bit late to change the start date for 2018. Some of us have already booked vacation houses for
The week of 8/18

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Options A and B-no way. So they shortened summer last year and want to shorten it again this year? Wow. That's harsh. Kids in sports and band would start camps a week earlier-that means near the end of July? Weather can't always been depended on in early June. We like to buy a pool membership but probably would not if options A or B were chosen. We would barely make use of it. It was bad enough they started before Labor Day this year. It was tough for my kids and a lot of other kids I know.

The pools are empty in Augist.

Not that pool use should be the metric -- but they are empty in August because (1) everyone has had enough swim time by then and it's old news, and (2) many people leave town for vacations in Aug b/c Congress shuts down. So, yes, pools are generally not very full in Aug. People are excited about summer in June/right after Memorial Day. By August, they are looking toward the next thing and summer is a has-been.

The pools are packed in June and empty in August.

Pools are not going to lose any business by fcps starting mid August

Somebody upthread said they wouldn’t join if the season was shortened.

That person is just like the actors who said they are moving to Canada when Trump won.

They will still join the pool. Because, well, swim team.