Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m actually confused why school has to end so late in June. I have kids in elementary school so maybe I’m missing something. But June seemed to be filled with class parties, field day, picnics, movie days etc. I’m fine with having a week for that but why have an entire month? If the are so dead set on august can we at least push for ending a week early in June? As for the religious holidays if they want to keep them there should be a basis for picking them such as by student population. Also can eliminate Columbus Day, Presidents’ Day and Veterans Day as holidays (though honestly should just be less religious holidays.) I am also confused over why Election Day has to be off. The explanation for that is always that elections happen in schools. But why do they have to? Why can’t they take place in public libraries or rec centers? I just don’t get it.

The goal is 180 days of school. We have too many religious holiday closures which means the calendar gets longer and longer. We added 5 new holidays last year and a couple the year before that. There are people lobbying for even more because it’s not fair that some are recognized over others. They’re not wrong which is why we need to just end it.

If you didn’t have two full weeks for winter break and starting two weeks before Labor Day, the school year would be shorter.

Don’t solely blame religious holidays.

I agree. The two week winter break used to be a ceiling, not a floor, and only when the days lined up just right. The number of teacher work days and professional days is also a big contributor. There’s no reason schools need to be closed on Election Day, Veterans Day, or Columbus Day.

Mind you I think the religious holidays are out of control too. But if APS were that committed to them they could have swapped them with existing, unnecessary days off. I say we scale back on all of them.

Schools are polling places for Election Day - they have to be closed.

In the past I’ve definitely voted at schools while kids were there. I guess that was back before Republicans were hanging out guns to everyone.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't think the two weeks before labor day is because of all the random days off. I think that is a general push to start earlier because AP tests, etc. Remember a lot of school districts have already started (CA, GA etc). That said, I'd love fewer random days off!

If that were the case, they would end earlier in June.

Anonymous wrote:I don't think the two weeks before labor day is because of all the random days off. I think that is a general push to start earlier because AP tests, etc. Remember a lot of school districts have already started (CA, GA etc). That said, I'd love fewer random days off!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m actually confused why school has to end so late in June. I have kids in elementary school so maybe I’m missing something. But June seemed to be filled with class parties, field day, picnics, movie days etc. I’m fine with having a week for that but why have an entire month? If the are so dead set on august can we at least push for ending a week early in June? As for the religious holidays if they want to keep them there should be a basis for picking them such as by student population. Also can eliminate Columbus Day, Presidents’ Day and Veterans Day as holidays (though honestly should just be less religious holidays.) I am also confused over why Election Day has to be off. The explanation for that is always that elections happen in schools. But why do they have to? Why can’t they take place in public libraries or rec centers? I just don’t get it.

The goal is 180 days of school. We have too many religious holiday closures which means the calendar gets longer and longer. We added 5 new holidays last year and a couple the year before that. There are people lobbying for even more because it’s not fair that some are recognized over others. They’re not wrong which is why we need to just end it.

If you didn’t have two full weeks for winter break and starting two weeks before Labor Day, the school year would be shorter.

Don’t solely blame religious holidays.

I agree. The two week winter break used to be a ceiling, not a floor, and only when the days lined up just right. The number of teacher work days and professional days is also a big contributor. There’s no reason schools need to be closed on Election Day, Veterans Day, or Columbus Day.

Mind you I think the religious holidays are out of control too. But if APS were that committed to them they could have swapped them with existing, unnecessary days off. I say we scale back on all of them.

Schools are polling places for Election Day - they have to be closed.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't think the two weeks before labor day is because of all the random days off. I think that is a general push to start earlier because AP tests, etc. Remember a lot of school districts have already started (CA, GA etc). That said, I'd love fewer random days off!

AP tests? You’re telling me kids need to go to school in August for some perceived advantage on a test they’ll take the following May? People in this county seriously need to relax.

The point is that the school year is misaligned with testing. We can start earlier and end earlier. Because everything happens in April and May, there is absolutely no reason for kids to go to school in June. It’s all babysitting at that point.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't think the two weeks before labor day is because of all the random days off. I think that is a general push to start earlier because AP tests, etc. Remember a lot of school districts have already started (CA, GA etc). That said, I'd love fewer random days off!

AP tests? You’re telling me kids need to go to school in August for some perceived advantage on a test they’ll take the following May? People in this county seriously need to relax.

The point is that the school year is misaligned with testing. We can start earlier and end earlier. Because everything happens in April and May, there is absolutely no reason for kids to go to school in June. It’s all babysitting at that point.

Kids taking AP tests are a very small fraction of all the kids in APS. Maybe we don’t need to align the whole calendar based on them? School from September to June is not crazy.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't think the two weeks before labor day is because of all the random days off. I think that is a general push to start earlier because AP tests, etc. Remember a lot of school districts have already started (CA, GA etc). That said, I'd love fewer random days off!

AP tests? You’re telling me kids need to go to school in August for some perceived advantage on a test they’ll take the following May? People in this county seriously need to relax.

The point is that the school year is misaligned with testing. We can start earlier and end earlier. Because everything happens in April and May, there is absolutely no reason for kids to go to school in June. It’s all babysitting at that point.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m actually confused why school has to end so late in June. I have kids in elementary school so maybe I’m missing something. But June seemed to be filled with class parties, field day, picnics, movie days etc. I’m fine with having a week for that but why have an entire month? If the are so dead set on august can we at least push for ending a week early in June? As for the religious holidays if they want to keep them there should be a basis for picking them such as by student population. Also can eliminate Columbus Day, Presidents’ Day and Veterans Day as holidays (though honestly should just be less religious holidays.) I am also confused over why Election Day has to be off. The explanation for that is always that elections happen in schools. But why do they have to? Why can’t they take place in public libraries or rec centers? I just don’t get it.

The goal is 180 days of school. We have too many religious holiday closures which means the calendar gets longer and longer. We added 5 new holidays last year and a couple the year before that. There are people lobbying for even more because it’s not fair that some are recognized over others. They’re not wrong which is why we need to just end it.

If you didn’t have two full weeks for winter break and starting two weeks before Labor Day, the school year would be shorter.

Don’t solely blame religious holidays.

I agree. The two week winter break used to be a ceiling, not a floor, and only when the days lined up just right. The number of teacher work days and professional days is also a big contributor. There’s no reason schools need to be closed on Election Day, Veterans Day, or Columbus Day.

Mind you I think the religious holidays are out of control too. But if APS were that committed to them they could have swapped them with existing, unnecessary days off. I say we scale back on all of them.

Schools are polling places for Election Day - they have to be closed.

Why do they have to be polling places? Why can’t we use public libraries and community centers?

Not enough.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m actually confused why school has to end so late in June. I have kids in elementary school so maybe I’m missing something. But June seemed to be filled with class parties, field day, picnics, movie days etc. I’m fine with having a week for that but why have an entire month? If the are so dead set on august can we at least push for ending a week early in June? As for the religious holidays if they want to keep them there should be a basis for picking them such as by student population. Also can eliminate Columbus Day, Presidents’ Day and Veterans Day as holidays (though honestly should just be less religious holidays.) I am also confused over why Election Day has to be off. The explanation for that is always that elections happen in schools. But why do they have to? Why can’t they take place in public libraries or rec centers? I just don’t get it.

The goal is 180 days of school. We have too many religious holiday closures which means the calendar gets longer and longer. We added 5 new holidays last year and a couple the year before that. There are people lobbying for even more because it’s not fair that some are recognized over others. They’re not wrong which is why we need to just end it.

If you didn’t have two full weeks for winter break and starting two weeks before Labor Day, the school year would be shorter.

Don’t solely blame religious holidays.

I agree. The two week winter break used to be a ceiling, not a floor, and only when the days lined up just right. The number of teacher work days and professional days is also a big contributor. There’s no reason schools need to be closed on Election Day, Veterans Day, or Columbus Day.

Mind you I think the religious holidays are out of control too. But if APS were that committed to them they could have swapped them with existing, unnecessary days off. I say we scale back on all of them.

Schools are polling places for Election Day - they have to be closed.

Why do they have to be polling places? Why can’t we use public libraries and community centers?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't think the two weeks before labor day is because of all the random days off. I think that is a general push to start earlier because AP tests, etc. Remember a lot of school districts have already started (CA, GA etc). That said, I'd love fewer random days off!

AP tests? You’re telling me kids need to go to school in August for some perceived advantage on a test they’ll take the following May? People in this county seriously need to relax.

Anonymous wrote:I don't think the two weeks before labor day is because of all the random days off. I think that is a general push to start earlier because AP tests, etc. Remember a lot of school districts have already started (CA, GA etc). That said, I'd love fewer random days off!

Anonymous wrote:I don't think the two weeks before labor day is because of all the random days off. I think that is a general push to start earlier because AP tests, etc. Remember a lot of school districts have already started (CA, GA etc). That said, I'd love fewer random days off!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m actually confused why school has to end so late in June. I have kids in elementary school so maybe I’m missing something. But June seemed to be filled with class parties, field day, picnics, movie days etc. I’m fine with having a week for that but why have an entire month? If the are so dead set on august can we at least push for ending a week early in June? As for the religious holidays if they want to keep them there should be a basis for picking them such as by student population. Also can eliminate Columbus Day, Presidents’ Day and Veterans Day as holidays (though honestly should just be less religious holidays.) I am also confused over why Election Day has to be off. The explanation for that is always that elections happen in schools. But why do they have to? Why can’t they take place in public libraries or rec centers? I just don’t get it.

The goal is 180 days of school. We have too many religious holiday closures which means the calendar gets longer and longer. We added 5 new holidays last year and a couple the year before that. There are people lobbying for even more because it’s not fair that some are recognized over others. They’re not wrong which is why we need to just end it.

If you didn’t have two full weeks for winter break and starting two weeks before Labor Day, the school year would be shorter.

Don’t solely blame religious holidays.

I agree. The two week winter break used to be a ceiling, not a floor, and only when the days lined up just right. The number of teacher work days and professional days is also a big contributor. There’s no reason schools need to be closed on Election Day, Veterans Day, or Columbus Day.

Mind you I think the religious holidays are out of control too. But if APS were that committed to them they could have swapped them with existing, unnecessary days off. I say we scale back on all of them.

Schools are polling places for Election Day - they have to be closed.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m actually confused why school has to end so late in June. I have kids in elementary school so maybe I’m missing something. But June seemed to be filled with class parties, field day, picnics, movie days etc. I’m fine with having a week for that but why have an entire month? If the are so dead set on august can we at least push for ending a week early in June? As for the religious holidays if they want to keep them there should be a basis for picking them such as by student population. Also can eliminate Columbus Day, Presidents’ Day and Veterans Day as holidays (though honestly should just be less religious holidays.) I am also confused over why Election Day has to be off. The explanation for that is always that elections happen in schools. But why do they have to? Why can’t they take place in public libraries or rec centers? I just don’t get it.

The goal is 180 days of school. We have too many religious holiday closures which means the calendar gets longer and longer. We added 5 new holidays last year and a couple the year before that. There are people lobbying for even more because it’s not fair that some are recognized over others. They’re not wrong which is why we need to just end it.

If you didn’t have two full weeks for winter break and starting two weeks before Labor Day, the school year would be shorter.

Don’t solely blame religious holidays.

I agree. The two week winter break used to be a ceiling, not a floor, and only when the days lined up just right. The number of teacher work days and professional days is also a big contributor. There’s no reason schools need to be closed on Election Day, Veterans Day, or Columbus Day.

Mind you I think the religious holidays are out of control too. But if APS were that committed to them they could have swapped them with existing, unnecessary days off. I say we scale back on all of them.