As others have pointed out, Teacher Workdays allow teachers extended time to complete the previous Quarter's administrative tasks, grading, and/or allow grade level teams to collaborate on the next Quarter's instruction. While daily planning time (when not taken by meetings) helps teachers keep on track with copying, preparing materials, contacting parents, etc., Teacher workdays really allow teachers to plan ahead. Those of you in the business world - think about if you have a presentation to make to a client or other staff, you would use your workday to prepare, edit and practice your presentations, hand-outs, etc. and perhaps take several days to prepare. Teachers do not have this time - we are "presenting" all day to our students. Prep time and planning days are very valuable in delivering appropriate and relevent instruction for our students.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Schools aren't a business. Don't think of them as such.

They really are. They should operate like a non-profit. Simply hire great staff, live within your means, and keep a laser like focus on your customers (the kids).

Ok. So should they expect to be supplied with raw materials (children)of equal quality with which they can turn into final products? Like a business can they reject raw materials that are of lower quality?

Anonymous wrote:Schools aren't a business. Don't think of them as such.

They really are. They should operate like a non-profit. Simply hire great staff, live within your means, and keep a laser like focus on your customers (the kids).

Sure, let's get rid of those pesky planning days. Who needs time for the teachers to catch up on grading, prepare report cards or call parents to update them on how students are doing? After all, getting this feedback from the teacher in a timely manner is SO disruptive to families.

Anonymous wrote:There are currently 4 days on top of the regular holidays that schools is off. These days are Workdays for teachers and Staff development day. Since Garza's ears are open we should start an initiative to get rid of these days that disrupt students and their family's lives. I propose they move to either the summer or spring break.

I guess you'd rather not have parent conferences and progress reports!

Don't you want teachers to have time at the end of one marking period to plan with colleagues, refresh classroom exhibit space, and otherwise plan for the new marking period?

Anonymous wrote:There are currently 4 days on top of the regular holidays that schools is off. These days are Workdays for teachers and Staff development day. Since Garza's ears are open we should start an initiative to get rid of these days that disrupt students and their family's lives. I propose they move to either the summer or spring break.

While you're at it, you should eliminate spring and Christmas breaks, too. Teachers could do their professional days etc. then. Those are very disruptive especially to working families. Summer is nice though.. let's keep that.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Did I hear correctly last night that there will be only one day for parent conferences instead of two? All other school districts I know have two days both in the fall and spring.

One day and not on the Tuesday due to Election Day

Nov. 3 and 4 are student holidays. Are those not the days for conferences?

Yes, they are. Nothing has changed. It says county inservices on the Tuesday, but Garza told principals yesterday that such a designation is not in stone. Teachers will be able to meet for conferences.

Dr. Garza told the School Board on Thursday night she had heard from several principals about parking issues on Election Day and hoped Monday would be for conferences and Tuesday would be the teacher in-service day.

We should definitely have a longer summer instead of multiple little days being added in. That provides for barely any break, so we should have one longer break! It's called SUMMER BREAK people!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

OP is joking people!!!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Did I hear correctly last night that there will be only one day for parent conferences instead of two? All other school districts I know have two days both in the fall and spring.

One day and not on the Tuesday due to Election Day

Nov. 3 and 4 are student holidays. Are those not the days for conferences?

Yes, they are. Nothing has changed. It says county inservices on the Tuesday, but Garza told principals yesterday that such a designation is not in stone. Teachers will be able to meet for conferences.

Ok. Thanks. Most teachers in my building get most of their conferences done before those days anyhow.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Did I hear correctly last night that there will be only one day for parent conferences instead of two? All other school districts I know have two days both in the fall and spring.

One day and not on the Tuesday due to Election Day

Nov. 3 and 4 are student holidays. Are those not the days for conferences?

Yes, they are. Nothing has changed. It says county inservices on the Tuesday, but Garza told principals yesterday that such a designation is not in stone. Teachers will be able to meet for conferences.