Comments concerning YRS/Alternative Calendar by citizens at Board of Education and City Council meetings

Stephen Kempf - Board of Education meeting 11/10/98

"I've thought long and hard about what I wanted to say to the board tonight. As I considered this question, I realized that among the many areas of concern surrounding the issue of an alternative school calendar or Year-Round School, I could talk about the negative and disruptive effect that an alternative calendar will have on community and family life. I could talk about the negative effect that it will have on summer vacations and the ability of our children to attend important summer camps and other functions. I could talk about the fact that there is no significant evidence that an alternative calendar will have any positive academic effect on the education of our children, "at risk" or otherwise.

However, I choose not to speak about any of these things tonight. Instead, I want to address an aspect of this issue that has far greater consequences for the education of our children and the continued success of the Auburn City Schools.

The success and excellence of a school system such as we have in Auburn is the result of a co-operative synergistic bond between concerned parents, teachers, the school system staff and administration, and the city administration, all taking a pro-active stance aimed at providing our children with the best education possible.

A good example of this co-operative bond has been the recent efforts to establish direct internet connectivity for all schools in our community. The need for internet access was brought to the attention of this board, the school system and the city by parents in this community. All responded positively to this need, and ALL, the parents, the school system, and the city worked together to insure that direct internet connections would be available in all the classrooms of our schools. This effort is just now coming to final fruition. All participants in this endeavor made significant contributions to its accomplishment.

The bond between parents, the school system and the city that allows this sort of unusual co-operative effort is a fragile covenant. It takes trust, commitment, and years of effort to establish. More than words, it is the actions of the participants that establish the trust necessary for such co-operation.

Unfortunately, the recent actions, and I emphasize the word actions, of the Auburn City Schools administration in their effort to consider an alternative calendar or Year-Round School have been viewed by many in our community as biased, unfair, and a breaching of the trust that in the past has made the bond between parents, the school system and the city of Auburn work so well. This is a grave situation that acts to undermine this essential bond that benefits our schools and our children.

Is the divisiveness arising out of the alternative calendar/Year-Round School issue worth the damage that is being done to that co-operative bond? I think not! I believe that this bond between parents, the school system, and the city should be nurtured and protected so that it will continue to benefit our school system. I urge Dr. Martin and you, the members of our Board of education, to give serious thought to this fact before making any decision about an alternative calendar that would do further damage this co-operative trust."

David Strobel - News Conference 11/10/98 and City Council meeting 11/17/98

"We appreciate everyone coming tonight. I am a concerned parent, one of many that wants the very best education possible for all of the children In the Auburn City Schools. In the last month, we've seen a flurry of activity concerning Year Round School or Alternative Calendar.

The ACS Exploration Committee has finished their review, flyers and fact sheets have been sent out, a Town meeting was held, and PTA panel discussions were held at each of the schools.

After all this research, exploration and information dissemination, the informed public and even the Facts Subcommittee have reached the same conclusions:

1. YRS or Alternative Calendar does not improve academic achievement, not for the average student, not for the at-risk student, and not for the gifted student.

2. YRS costs more money, up to $1.7 million per year, according to Dr. Martin. That's an increase of 6.3% of the current budget.

3. YRS disrupts family life and family decision making.

4. YRS does not provide continuity of learning as the proponents state, but actually disrupts the flow of learning by introducing several long breaks throughout the year.

5. YRS places the community out of sync with 97% of the rest of the country that is on the traditional calendar.

6. Since 1978 over 680 schools involving over 400,000 students that adopted YRS later rejected it and returned to the traditional calendar.

7. YRS is never successful without the support of the community. We have one of the best school systems not only in the state but in the country. As parents and citizens, we urge the Board of Education members to review the literature and to listen to the community and to do the right thing:

Vote NO on year round school.

Then let's all work together as one to further improve our schools and the education of our children through proven targeted programs within the traditional school."

Chris Newland - City Council meeting 11/17/98

The proposal to change the Auburn City School calendar includes a plan for extra class days called 'intersessions' and a 30 day (6 week) summer school. Depending on which of the four calendars is recommended, that 6 week summer school could be sandwiched into a 7 week summer that should include a July 4th break. The 2 week intersessions could be sandwiched into a 2 week break between terms. There will be no break for those students under at least one of the calendars proposed.

This will cost additional money, but it is not clear how much. At the most recent school board meeting, 9 budget estimates were made available, ranging in size from $176,000 to $521,000, most of this in new money. These haven't been the only estimates At PTA meetings the cost estimates were $1.7 million. When the community first heard the proposal it was said that it would only cost $45,000. We don't really know what we are being asked to consider, but the million dollar estimate was said to be the most accurate.

Where will this money come from? Dr. Martin was quoted in the O-A News as saying that he plans to ask for a increase in Auburn city Schools' take of the millage from 36.5% to 40%. According to figures provided by the State Department of Education this would amount to about $684,000, not far from the highest estimate for the YRS proposal.

What will we get for this expense? A summer session seems like a worthwhile investment, but the one proposed is not even a complete term. It is about 2/3 of a term. And under one of the calendars, the students attending it will experience a total of a one week summer, perhaps 2 days before the summer term and 3 days after it, unless those days are gobbled up by days devoted to the July 4th holiday.

What will students do during this time? It is said that elementary school students who are struggling with reading will be taught to read. Those struggling with arithmetic will be taught basic arithmetic facts. High school students failing a course will be able to make it up. This will be accomplished, it is said, in an intersession that is either 5 or 10, half-days or a summer school that is 2/3 of a term.

This is not realistic. When budgets are presented it is reasonable to ask what is likely to be gained. Can an entire term's worth of failure be remedied in a few days? Or even a partial term? Is it reasonable to think that a student who is struggling with a regular term can learn the material in an abbreviated one?

Is it worth a try? It might be said that such a proposal is worth experimenting with to see if it works. But this is not necessary--the experiment has already been done many times. I have sent you and the school board a summary of the literature cited in support of the claim that this will work. The literature is not ambiguous. It is not subject to interpretation. It is clear. As far as educational benefits are concerned, there are none.

This should have died in committee. What I have said tonight was noted earlier by the Facts Committee appointed to review the merits of year-round school. That report was not accepted but instead was re-written and presented to the community in support of this proposal.

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