The following document is a report on irregularities in the Auburn City School's survey concerned with the Year Round School/Alternative Calendar issue. This report was submitted to the Auburn City Council on 11/30/98 and to the Board of Education on 12/2/98. The document below is complete except as noted. All letters are unedited transcriptions of the original handwirtten or typed copies.
November 23, 1998
Report on the Irregularities of the Auburn City School Balloting on Year Round School, Conducted 12 - 19 Nov 1998
submitted to the Auburn City Council through Mayor Bill Ham
submitted by:David Elton 222 Singleton St. Auburn, AL 36830
November 30, 1998
Mayor Bill Ham171 N. Ross St.Auburn, AL 36830
re: irregularities in the Auburn City Schools year round school written survey
Dear Mayor Ham:
Many irregularities were noted in the recent year round school survey conducted by Auburn City Schools. We bring only those with which we are closely familiar to your attention as these incidents and problems have significantly biased the survey results.
As these results may well be used by the ACS Administration to justify year round school in Auburn immediately with the upcoming vote by the Board of Education or in the future at a time when parents and citizens may be less watchful, we want you and the Council to have a record of the problems encountered in obtaining the survey data.
We urge you to consider the enclosed information carefully. The survey instrument shows bias in both Sections A and B, the instructions to voters on how to complete the survey were biased, and the survey was conducted with inadequate controls. Consequently, any results from the survey are invalidated due to these serious irregularities.
Please note the Troy State professional review of the survey, noting fatal survey errors.
Problems in any one of the areas mentioned could be considered a fatal flaw of the validity of the survey. The numerous irregularities throughout cause one to question the intent of the surveyors.
These inappropriate actions by the ACS Administration have already caused the beginnings of the destruction of the parent/teacher/school system synergistic bond as spoken to by Drs. Steven Kempf and Chris Newland at previous Council meetings. Many already feel that their volunteer efforts, whether it be spending time helping kindergartners check out books on a weekly basis or donating items to the PTA only to repurchase them at twice (or more) the cost, are not only wasted but entirely unappreciated by the schools when this kind of waste is permitted to continue.
Distrust between the community and ACS is increasing. How can parents trust school administrators when they continue to receive misinformation as evidenced in the two "fact sheets" parents received along with the "Perspectives" insert in the OA News
which presented information differently than in the two "fact sheets"? Then, to have many parents, who received the fact sheets in the mail, NOT receive the parent survey in their mail is unpardonable. One such parent asked Mary Ann MacKenzie on 11/25/98 when she would be receiving her parent survey in the mail. She was not happy when she was told the survey was supposed to have been completed 11/19/98, almost one week earlier. Dave Elton received calls from people inquiring of him why they hadn't received their survey in the mail. These are just a few isolated incidents. How many Auburn citizens did not receive any information regarding the survey and thus, were not allowed to voice their opinion? The breakdown of our community spirit in supporting ACS began with past experiences, and continues with the year round school program.
Please review the enclosed materials carefully. We believe you will see the insurmountable problems with the survey and the survey process which, consequently, completely invalidate any results obtained from the survey.
We would enjoy the opportunity to discuss this with you at your convenience. Please feel free to call on us with any questions your may have.
Please address questions about the attached report to Dave Elton, who compiled it.
Sincerely,
David J. EltonBernhart KaltenboeckLudmilla KaltenboeckRichard MaurerStephen C. KempfMary Ann MacKenzieDebra A. EnebakNancy KinkaidDavid L. StrobelVance RutherfordScott Enebak3 other unreadable signatures
Concerned Parents and Citizens of Auburn
c: Auburn City Schools Board of Education Auburn City Council
Two surveys were conducted: Balloting and phone surveys. These form the two parts of this report.
Section One: Balloting
Auburn City Schools performed separate balloting for at least these groups:
o the Alternative calendar committee (ballot mailed to them) o Auburn City Schools teachers o some Auburn City School students o parents o citizens of Auburn
Note that Auburn City Schools teachers who are parents were eligible to vote three times. Parents were eligible to vote as citizens (one each) and as parents (once together). It is understood that these ballots will be tallied independently.
No Pre testing. Dr. Freeman, assistant superintendent of Auburn City Schools has said that no pre-testing of the survey instrument was done. This is a major problem with any survey. Pre-testing determines how people answer and what they meant to answer. Without a pre-test, gross errors can occur.
Pre-testing would have avoided the some of the problems reported herein.
Ballot irregularities:
1. On the ballots, the traditional calendar summer vacation dates were underestimated (11 weeks instead of 12) which makes the current summer vacation duration closer to the year round school vacation times. While this was pointed out in the 3 Nov 1998 Board of Education meeting, no change was made. See Attachment 5.
The significance is: the shorter summer breaks under year round school do not seem as short when the current calendar summer break is reported shorter.
This irregularity was brought to the ACS administration by letter on 30 Oct 1998. ACS personnel at the Auburn City Schools Board of Education meeting on 10 Nov 1998 acknowledged this irregularity. This irregularity was mentioned in most of the PTA meetings on year round school and was addressed in the Auburn High School Town Meeting on year round school on 12 Oct 1998. The irregularity was in a letter to the editor in the Opelika-Auburn News 20 Nov 1998, pA-4. Yet, no action was taken to correct the survey!
2. ballot instructions included directions to mark two choices for calendars in Box B (see Attachment 5) Even if a voter chose Strongly Disagree with a change, marking two choices indicates that he favors a change half the time. A Strongly Disagree voter should be instructed not to mark any calendar, much less two of them.
This rudimentary fault makes it impossible to interpret the votes. The Troy State pollster hired to review the survey pointed out this fatal flaw. A private citizen did this simple measure - hiring a professional - before the ballot was used (see enclosed invoice and survey review in Attachment 7). The flaw was also apparent to many, who contacted Lynda Rainer at Auburn City School, but had no success in getting the ballot changed. Mr. Vance Rutherford (704-0366) even made an alternative ballot (also reviewed by Troy State) that corrected this flaw and took it to Superintendent Martin. This flaw makes the ballot results strongly favor year round school.
3. note that some Auburn City Schools principals "informally" surveyed their teachers before the official polling, using at least one different survey (see Attachment 4)These results were reported in a citizen (not ACS) letter in the Opelika-Auburn News 15 Nov 1998, pA-4 and in the ACS OA News newspaper insert on about 3 November 1998.
The results from that survey, cited in a letter to the editor of the Opelika-Auburn News (15 Nov 1998, pA-4) are not valid, because the current calendar was not a choice! (Attachment 4)
4. the survey form had five calendars. Three of them were calendars that the Auburn City Schools Alternative Calendar committee did not investigate (A, B and C). Only D was investigated. E was the Traditional Calendar.
Auburn City Schools was asking the citizens to select from calendars whose academic, economic, social and community interests and problems were not investigated by anyone.
Conduct of the Survey:
1. There was no control over the number of surveys distributed. Therefore, no percent return can be calculated. ACS cannot even know how many people they reached.
It is impossible to determine the validity of the survey without knowing who received the survey. Yet, ACS had no control over the citizen part of the survey. Apparently, the parent part was not well controlled either - since some parents didnÌt get a parent survey (see below).
One of the first numbers to come out in any election is the percent of registered voters who actually voted. Usually, with a survey, if a certain percent of return is not obtained, a second round or reminder notices will be sent out until the desired percent is received. This way the surveyor can feel confident that the survey represents a good sample of the respondents. A professional pollster at Troy State University verbally verified that this type of poll must have a significant return to be valid (Ms. Joyce Kerwin, 1 334 670 3524).
2. not all parents received the green parental ballot in the mail that allowed them to vote (a list of some of them is attached). Those that didnÌt likely didnÌt know they were supposed to and didnÌt request one. Those that didnÌt most likely didnÌt know they could vote as parents as well as citizens
(Names and phone numbers of 41 parents who did not receive the survey were provided here.)
3. some parents, when made aware of this were able to get another green parent survey ballot at the polling station. Others were not (no names provided).
4. some Auburn City Schools students were allowed to vote twice, and some were not (see Attachment 2). Letters from four are attached (one rejected, three accepted). Ms. Joanne Thomson (826-7913) witnessed Assistant Superintendent Dr. Freeman telling a student that no more under-18 voting would be allowed.
5. middle school students were read the Attachment 1 attached handout just before balloting. The handout virtually promises sporting and creative activities that were never discussed by the Auburn City Schools Alternative calendar committee, and whose funding was never discussed. Sufficient funding of remedial activities is almost impossible, much less funding for pottery, water colors, oils, sculpting, arts and crafts, ballet dancing, tap dance, jazz dance, modern dance, Shakespeare in the Park, Exploratory Music, Foreign Language exploration, Computer (Internet use, multi-media presentations, etc.), Video production, Sport Camps (basketball, swimming, cheerleading, volleyball, fishing, rock climbing. etc.), Book Clubs, Author Studies, Inventor's Club, Astronomy Club, Stock Market Exploration.
Use of the year round school intersessions for "Helping Auburn High School students pass the exit exam" was mentioned for the first time, although no financial discussion this has ever taken place at an ACS Alternative Calendar meeting.
6. no security at the ballot boxes (no "locked boxes" as promised verbally twice by Dr. Martin (1 Oct and 3 Nov 1998 at year round school committee meetings). Taped, cardboard boxes with large slots in them were used. Pictures are attached. See Attachment 6.
Even with the ACS person at the front desk of the ACS office watching, because of the placement of the box relative to her position, every time someone put a survey in the box and turned their back to her, her view of the box was entirely cut off, allowing ballot box stuffing.
The voter registration pad was left out at night and was actually examined by several individual who attended the PTA Council meeting Tuesday night (11/17/98), making it possible for signatures to be added or deleted. Adding signatures would be required to provide cover for ballot box stuffing.
Section Two: Phone Survey
Auburn City Schools conducted a phone survey on year round school.
Auburn City Schools engaged Dr. Gerald Johnson, former Auburn City School Board President, of Capital Surveys, to conduct a phone poll for free. No discussion of the budget for the poll took place in the September or October Auburn City School Board meetings. He has been unable to get copies of the Auburn City School minutes despite repeated requests for over a month.
The preliminary polling instrument is attached. It contains questions on year round school, calendar choice and cost of year round school. Cost is a very important item, left off the written survey.
Problems with the phone survey made to Auburn residents are contained in Attachment 7.
A survey must be completed if it is to be counted at all. Thus, incomplete surveys are discarded. Attempts to discourage citizens from completing the survey are fatal violations of survey protocol.
We do not know how the phone numbers were selected (were campus prefixes eliminated (eliminating graduate students)? were cell phones used? etc.)
Attachment 1.
This form was read to Middle School students the day before they voted on year round school.
This form gives the strong impression that there will be many Auburn City Schools sponsored fun enrichment activities during intersessions. There has been no public discussion of funding this. In fact, there has been very controversial discussion on how to obtain funding on the most recent reason* for year round school -- remediation at-risk students.
Note that this form introduces another ACS reason for year round school (the 7th) -- helping Auburn High School students pass the high school graduation exit exam. The ACS Alternative Calendar committee never considered this reason.
*the other reasons were:
1. The Board of Education charged the Auburn City Schools administration to study the YRS concept.2. The Auburn 2020 report directed Auburn City Schools to examine the YRS concept.3. "Continuity of learning" is enhanced under YRS.4. Overall academic achievement increases with YRS.5. Year round school will improve the performance of at-risk students.6. Year round school is needed to reduce teacher burnout.
Nov 13 90 03:59p Auburn Board of Education 887 - 2107
What is an Alternative Calendar?
On November 19 you will be asked to complete a survey asking your opinion about an alternative calendar for our school system. You should be informed about what an alternative calendar involves before you make your decision.
Terms To Know.
o Alternative Calendar-Sometimes called Year Round School, this does not mean that you would go to school "year round" The school system is investigating taking a few weeks from summer and redistributing them throughout the year. Three of the possible alternative calendars include a Fall Break, three-week Winter Break, and a two or more week Spring Break or Intersessions
o Intersession-This is the breaks/vacation time between the grading periods. 1-Remediation could be offered at this time for students who need extra help in certain areas or need to improve their grade.
Example:
o Sixth grader who needs help in science o Eighth grader who needs tutoring in algebra o Twelfth grader who needs tutoring for the High School Graduation Exam o Twelfth grader who needs tutoring in chemistry
2-Enrichment courses could be offered at this time for students who do not need remediation but would like to take certain courses. Example:
o Art Classes (pottery water colors, oils, sculpting, arts and crafts, etc.)
o Exploratory Dance (ballet, tap, jazz, modern, etc.)
o Drama (plays, short stories, Shakespeare in the Park)
o Exploratory Music (guitar, etc.)
o Foreign Language exploration (French, Spanish, etc.)
o Computer (Internet use, multi-media presentations, etc.)
o Video production
o Sport Camps (basketball, swimming, cheerleading, volleyball, fishing, rock climbing. etc.)
o Book Clubs, Author Studies
o Inventor's Club
o Astronomy Club
o Stock Market Exploration
o ACT/SAT Preparation
o Odyssey of the Mind
3-This time could be used as a vacation time for students, teachers and families.
How long would summer be if there was a change? This past summer was approximately 11 weeks. The sample calendars have summers ranging from 7 weeks to 11 weeks. You will be asked to select your first two preferences.
Are there other reasons that the school system is considering an alternative calendar? The new high school graduation exit exam for the state of Alabama is tile second most difficult in the United States (Vermont is first). This year's 10th grade will be the first class to take this test. There are other proposed state mandated tests that our students must be prepared to take. Auburn, like other school systems across the state, is investigating ways of helping our students be more successful.
The school system sees the possible positive aspects of an alternative calendar to include tile following:
o Remediation time during intersessions for students who need help before they get too far behind.
o Breaks would be spread out throughout the year so families would have more options when they wanted to travel.
o Finals and projects would be completed before Christmas (Fall and Spring also) so there would be no schoolwork over the break.
o More frequent breaks could reduce the stress load for both students and teachers.
The school system sees the possible negative aspects of an alternative calendar to include the following:
o Families could be inconvenienced o Camp times/ball schedules could conflict o Day care could be a problem for some families o Some summer jobs could be affected
The important thing is for you as a student to know the facts before you fill out the survey. Ask questions, talk to your parents, and then make your decision.
From: lsilvern@humsci.auburn.edu Fri Nov 20 09:09:22 1998Date: Fri Nov 20 1998 08:52:19 -0600From: Linda Silvern <lsilvern@humsci.auburn.edu>To: "David J. Elton" <elton@eng.auburn.edu>Subject: Re: Pro YRS Propaganda from Teachers
David,
My daughter Becca-Drake Middle School student � (who with Erica Newland was on the committee of 50) said that Ûinformation about YRS with the list of enrichment activities was read to her class and she was not allowed to respond to it until after every one had Ûvoted. Then she was allowed to explain that the budget proposals didnt include any of those wonderful activities and they would probably never take place. She reported that many of her classmates wanted to change their choices and had trouble doing so since many had filled the survey out in pen. She also reported that several of her friends in other classes had chosen YRS options because of the enrichment list. They obviously had no one knowledgeable to speak against it. She said it swayed friends who were on the fence as to what they thought. I will be writing another letter to BOE about this. I am beyond appalled at this point.
Linda Silvern
The Auburn Bulletin11/21/98
Letter: Committee member dismayed at YRS tactics
Attached (See A-1) (see above), is a copy of a letter on the YRS community education process that I read at the Nov. 17th city council meeting. I have covered these same points with school administrators and the school board at various times over the past few months.
In all the years that Ive worked the PTA, I have never seen a more biased handling of an issue by school administrators. Throughout the process, I have made our administrators and school board members aware of my concerns. But the blasted information kept coming.
In the past few days, Ive had numerous calls from parents who are totally confused by the survey and polling process. Ive also received calls from parents wondering when they were going to get their surveys.
Last night, I overheard a conversation of some middle school children about a presentation they heard at school regarding year-round school These children were talking about all of the wonderful enrichment classes that would be offered during the inter sessionUart, music, rock climbing, etc.
A check with a teacher this morning confirmed their story and the fact that the presentation was made before the children were to fill out a survey on this issue. As a member of the committee appointed to look at YRS, I know that our committee did discuss enrichment activities but only in a most general way. I also know that Dr. Martin made it clear that there were no dollars in the current budget to pay for such wonderful things. We dont even have the money to pay for the proposed remediation.
Im deeply concerned that our administrators would use children in this manner. Im so concerned that Ive decided to submit the letter I read at the city council meeting for publication in your letters to the editor column.
Cheryl CobbAuburn
Attachment 2.
Letters from students indicating some were allowed to vote as citizens as some were not allowed to vote as citizens.
This shows the inconsistencies in the voting process.
Note the ages of voters.
At 5:20pm on 11/19 Shannon Symuleski tried to turn in a survey as a citizen. She was denied because she is 17 and was told she had to be 18.
DW Symuleski
November 22, 1998
Anna Kaltenboeck1205 Sunnyslope CourtAuburn, AL 36830-6768P: (334)826-9757e.mail annakaltenboeck@yahoo.com
To Whom It May Concern:
This letter is to confirm that I was allowed to submit a Community survey on the Alternative Calendar on November 18, 1998, at the Auburn City School Central Office, 855 E. Samford Ave., Auburn AL 36830. I am presently 11th-grade student at Auburn High School.
Anna Kaltenboeck
Katie Pate116 S. Ryan StreetAuburn, AL 36830
November 20, 1998
Ive heard that several students were not allowed to turn in a Year Round School survey as community members. I dont understand why. On Monday, 16 November 1998, I turned in a community survey at the ACS office and was not even questioned. I believe students are members of the community also. We should have a say in this because it will effect us directly. If parents and teachers are allowed to vote as community members, students should too.
Katie Pate
11-22-98
I voted in the ACS survey on 11-19-98. No one said anything about my age.
Jon Thomson, age 91042 Birch CircleAuburn
I signed up for a survey for auburn city schools.
Ralph Spry, age 9
1030 Birch CircleAuburn, AL 36830November 23, 1998
Dr. David Elton:
I went to the ACS Central Office on Thursday, November 19th, with my children to return our surveys. There was no problem with my survey; however, my children were given a pretty hard time. Had I known ahead of time that they would be treated so poorly, I would never have taken them.
They were asked to present identification. When they could not present drivers licenses, they were subjected to ÛHumph and ÛIll ask. They waited (and waited) patiently until someone finally came out and accepted a military I.D. card and social security cards as adequate identification.
The worst part by far was having Dr. Freeman come out of her office and very indignantly say, ÛThis is getting ridiculous! From now on theyve got to be 18! It was then about 3:00p.m. I know for a fact that other children had been allowed to submit a survey. I dont understand why we were treated so disrespectfully.
I do not believe the survey achieved any real purpose. It was difficult to obtain, understand, and even to return. While at the ACS office, I also noticed several people placing more than one survey into the box. Were some allowed to submit more than one survey or to turn in surveys for others who couldnt come? I saw such disorganization that I think the survey was a farce! I really hope something can be done about this.
Respectfully,
Sylvia A. Spry
I went to the ACS office with my mom and they said I couldnt sign a survey, but then they let me sign.
Tiffany Spry, 111030 Birch CircleAuburn
Attachment 3.
Very important letters from Auburn citizens showing that voting irregularities were present, and problems with survey.
Apparently, Auburn City Schools staff was allowed to vote without registering, and was allowed to vote more than once.
November 21, 1998
I am writing very briefly to notify you of something I personally observed when turning in my YRS Survey Thursday, Nov. 19, 1998 at the ACS Administration Bldg. The receptionist required me to show a picture I.D. before signing in, which was fine. However, while waiting in line to do this I noticed Dr. Suzanne Freeman place a survey (or possibly surveys) in the box without signing in. I brought this to the attention of the receptionist and she said Dr. Freemans Secretary was supposed to be helping her watch and that she herself didnt see anything. When I asked Dr. Freemans secretary about the requirement to show I.D. and sign in, she said the staff there had just been putting theirs in the box too (without signing in, as I observed Dr. Freeman do). You can see the problem with this, I am sure � they had the opportunity to put ballots (maybe even extra ones) in without signing in. Dr. Freemans Secretary also informed me staff could turn in one staff survey, one parent survey, and one community survey, so she got 3 votes to my one vote, as well, and without showing a picture I.D. and signing in as I was required to do
Amy Jenson331 Mockingbird LaneAuburn, AL 36830
Date: Tue, 1 Dec 1998 14:24:12 -0800 (PST)From: Debbie Bagwell <dnagwell@auburn.campus.mci.net>To: <elton@eng.auburn.edu>Subject: YRS Survey
Dave,
I tried to attach this file, but am having difficulty doing so. Sorry.
After talking with my daughter at Auburn High School, I realized that the procedure discussed in the YRS subcommittee on surveying (which I am a member) was not followed. Each student was supposed to place their survey in the survey box themselves. Instead her teacher not only did not give her time to write comments, but she also took each survey and placed them in a common envelope. Because of this breech in the procedure process, she does not know what happened to her survey.
I also observed an enormously large opening in the survey box at AHS. It was large enough to easily put a hand in.
Debbie Bagwell
November 12, 1998
Dr. Michael Martin, SuperintendentAuburn City Schools855 E. Samford Ave.Auburn, AL 36830
Dear Dr. Martin:
One of the objectives of the committee to explore an alternative school year is to seek public input and opinion regarding an alternative school calendar. The committee is using a survey in their attempt to ascertain public opinion regarding an alternative school calendar. After inspection of the committees survey instrument I can only come to one conclusion; the Alternative School Year Community Survey is not a valid survey instrument and hence will be of no utility to the committee in meeting its objective of measuring public opinion on the subject of an alternative school calendar. This is my opinion regardless of how the numbers tally up.
Standard and accepted methodology in the development of surveys is to have a survey instrument reviewed by peers in the field of inquiry. This review often provides insight into the research question and an instrument is often modified based on comments of the reviewers. A revised instrument is then pre-tested using a sample of the survey respondent population. This is a critical step in the development of a survey instrument. Pre-testing allows identification of difficult and ambiguous instructions and questions prior to full implementation of the survey. If a survey is ambiguous, ambiguous results will follow.
At the November 11, 1998 Board of Education meeting concerns regarding the Ûambiguous nature of the survey were raised by many. I talked with Dr. Freeman during the break of the meeting regarding the survey. I was disappointed, but not surprised, to learn that the survey had been neither peer reviewed or pre-tested. Had the survey been developed using accepted methodology problems with the confusing and ambiguous nature of the survey could have corrected. Problems with the survey include:
Use of the words Ûwould and Ûcould in the Section A and Section B. These words are often used to soften the force of a statement. The statement in Section A should have read something like ÛI support a changing of the school calendar. The statement in the survey reads as if the ACS has already made a decision to change the school calendar. Responses in Section B should have read ÛI support Calendar X. These are serious flaws in the instrument.
Many of the community are undecided or have no opinion regarding an alternative school calendar. The survey assumes everyone agrees or disagrees, at some level, with the concept of changing the school calendar. There is no response in Section A for those still undecided or having no opinion. This is a fatal flaw in the survey instrument. In the interpretation of the data, the committee can not assume these people will not make a selection of the alternatives presented in Section A.
If a respondent disagrees or strongly disagrees with changing the school calendar there is really only one option for them in Section B, supporting the traditional calendar. Yet a respondent is instructed to mark their first and second choices in Section B. How are these data to be interpreted? This is a serious and possibly a fatal flaw in the instrument.
Three of the sample calendars have factual errors. Calendar C has 68 days or10 weeks (or 9.7 weeks) in the summer vacation and not 9 weeks as stated in the survey. Calendar D has 55 days or 8 weeks (or 7.9 weeks) in the summer vacation and not 7 weeks as stated in the survey. Calendar D has 84 days or 12 weeks in the summer vacation and not 11 weeks as stated in the survey. Respondents will be selecting two of five calendars, three of which are factually incorrect and do not exist. These are fatal flaws in the instrument and makes interpretation of any results meaningless.
I also have other concerns regarding the survey and the process in which it is being administered. Based on my concerns stated above results of the Alternative School Year Community Survey will be of no utility to the committee in measuring public opinion on the subject of an alternative school calendar regardless of how the numbers tally up.
Mark R. Dubois748 Heard Ave.Auburn, AL 36830
cc: Board of Education
patealice@colstate.edu
David Elton:
My daughter and Milla's daughter voted as community members on Monday. When I voted yesterday Lois Flowers told a student to go get her ID and she could vote as community member.
Alice PateAssistant Professor of HistoryDepartment of History4225 University Ave.Columbus, GA 31907-5645Office: 706-565-3632Fax: 706-569-3123
Attachment 4.
Auburn City Schools principals surveyed their teachers before the official polling, using a different survey. One of those surveys is attached.
This one is from Dr. Self, Auburn High School principal.
The results from that survey, cited in a letter to the editor of the Opelika-Auburn News (15 Nov 1998, pA-4) are not valid, because the current calendar was not a choice!
This also invalidates the data published by ACS (OA News insert, about 3 Nov 1998) stating that 40 of 242 ACS teachers endorsed the traditional calendar, when that calendar was not even an option on all of the teacher surveys. This appears to be outright deception of the public.
(The form for the Alternative School year Teacher/Staff Pole was included here to show that this form had only choices for alternative school year calendars and NO CHOICE for traditional school year. This information was included as a rebuttal to the following Opelika-Auburn News Guest Column that claimed that more than 85% of the ACS teachers informally chose an Alternative calendar instead of a traditional calendar. This is not surprising since the traditional calendar was not one of the choices.)
Guest column: YRS a good idea
N.S. MalladiGuest colurnnist
After reading an O-A News editorial of Nov. 12 on the importance of "play in a child's day," I found that it is the "child" in me who desired the present day school kids also to relax and play a lot at the end of every quarter, as I did, that made me write so many letters in support of YRS.
I grew up in India as a poor child, but rich with play time with my friends everyday. We played several games in creative ways just for fun at home, on trees and around paddy fields of the village and yet had enough time to memorize the prose and poetry for the next day! In fact, play-time and school-time complemented each other so well for me, that I became the valedictorian for the class of '58, with least effort, though I was an at-risk student initially.
I looked at the YRS "survey" as a child, a Ph.D. whose thesis was on the analysis of motion and a designer of mechanisms in PCs, ATMs and other actuators. To move an object, such as a rocking horse, between two given positions, we can come up with infinite number of four-link mechanisms. But a good designer picks the one with "the transmission angle close to 90 degrees" during its range of motion, since such a device requires the lowest horse-power motor compared to other designs. However, we have to note that even the choice of the best mechanism does not guarantee economy and long life unless it is frequently lubricated.
I studied the calendar options from the above considerations of design and maintainability. Of the calendars the Traditional Calendar with its second quarter extending beyond the Christmas holiday season and into the new year with no good 'brakes,' is the one with least efficiency and hardest to maintain during the year! But with a powerful motor it can be run as it is now, with several middle and high school kids, going to bed only after mid night almost everyday.
Hence it is not surprising that more than 85 percent of the ACS teachers informally chose the Alternative Calendars in stead of the Traditional. I also gather that only a third of the AU faculty are in favor of "STOP YRS," that too with the assumption that YRS means only four weeks of summer vacation! I am not surprised to learn that with two summer sessions and several extension, outreach, research and developmental programs during summer, only about 5 percent of the AU faculty will not have summer contracts with the university. Hence YRS has no major effect on the university community, or the rest, contrary to what we were repeatedly told to believe by a few.
Considering the uniform and all-round robustness, the best pick would be Alternative Calendar C. Compared to the Traditional, it has half a week more Christmas vacation after the second quarter, one week more of spring vacation and an additional two weeks of fall vacation. That means a total of three-and-a-half weeks more of vacation during the year. Yet its summer vacation (nine weeks) is only two weeks short of Traditional summer ( 11 weeks). Hence there is a net gain of one-and-a-half weeks of vacation with a new fall vacation. It is a very good design with good maintainability and opportunities to lubricate the system in the form of remedial action and relaxation. I sincerely congratulate the designers for a very fine job done.
The close-up of Calendar C looks even better. For example, holidays for Labor Day and Thanksgiving are during the middle of first and second quarters. Thus Calendar C's "transmission angles for both teaching and learning" are almost perfect. If we lubricate the mechanism of this Alternative Calendar frequently, it will give us long, reliable and economical service.
Let us look for the good and praise it. Remember to vote for it!
N.S. Malladi Ph.D., is a resident of Auburn
Attachment 5. Ballot used in the Auburn City School year round school survey, and other information.
1. Ballot used in the survey.
2. Letter from the Opelika-Auburn News indicating that the number of summer weeks counted by Auburn City Schools for survey was incorrect. It is stated as 11 when, in fact, it is 12. The shorter number of weeks minimized the difference between YRS calendars and the current calendar, making the change to year round school seem less severe.
3. For the record, Ms. Lynda Rainer, as early as 14 Sep 1998 distributed the Alexander City year round school calendar, with the wrong number of week so summer listed on it, also. She cited 9 weeks, when there were 7 weeks and 4 days.
The error here makes it seem that year round school summers (like in Alexander City) were not that much shorter than our 12 week (cited as 11 weeks later) summer. The effect is simply to make the change to year round school less drastic, biasing the survey towards year round school.
11/20/98
Opelika * Auburn News* THE NEWSPAPER OF EAST ALABAMA*11/20/98
Letter: Explain YRS break mystery
The letter "YRS doesn't add up" of O-A News, Nov. 17, is very relevant. Decades back when Einstein was asked to explain his theory of relativity to lay people, he said "When you are in love, you don't feel time!" However, the case with YRS is different.
As the survey form states, the teachers have eight more staff-days than the student-days in a year plus, several other working days. Hence, the definition of a vacation is more technical than is apparent! Perhaps in a Traditional Calendar, these staff and other days run into the summer whereas, in YRS, some of them can be absorbed during the additional YRS breaks and hence the net gains for the students during the year. That is why even though all of the first three out of the four Alternative Calendars end on May 25 for the students, their starting dates (Aug. 10 and 2) differ by only eight days for a two week difference in summer vacation ( 11 weeks and 9 weeks).
After reading the above letter I poured one cup of sugar into three cups of water. The solution measured only three and half cups and not four, as the math might indicate! It is a wonderful world. ACS teaches good math, science and art. We are fortunate to have teachers at ACS who are willing to give more breaks during the year to students who often say "Give me a break!", while they themselves continue to work. However, I too request that ACS give a detailed explanation to this YRS vacation mystery.
N.S. Malladi, Ph.D.Auburn
(The "Fact Sheet for Alternative Calendar Exploration Committee" document prepared by Ms. Lynda Rainer and the Alexander City year round school calendar, with the wrong number of weeks for summer listed on it --she cited 9 weeks, when there were actually 7 weeks and 4 days -- were provided here. This information may be obtained from David Elton at elton@eng.auburn.edu)
Attachment 6. Pictures of Balloting.
Pictures taken at the Auburn City School office 17 Nov 1998, about 2PM. Ballot box for year round school balloting shown.
Security was very low. Cardboard box was used.
H.C. COBB, IV PE357 Corktree CircleAuburn, AL 36832
Dave:
I voted on the YRS issue on Tuesday, I delivered my "at large" survey form to the central office somewhere in the vicinity of 11:00am. When I entered the office, there were two people behind the receptionists desk engaged in a discussion about some paperwork being held by one of them. I immediately noticed the YRS survey box in the waiting area and slipped my survey form into it. I was already out the door before I remembered that I was supposed to sign a roster that indicated I had voted. I don't think I was noticed by either person in the receptionist's area until I came in the SECOND time. The arrangement certainly didnt seem very "secure".
H.C. Cobb
Alice K. Pate116 South Ryan StreetAuburn, AL 36830
Last Monday about 5pm at the ACS office, the survey ballot box was unattended for about five minutes. I entered the office with three other individuals. We had to go to the back to ask to turn in the survey form. Also, we were not asked for an ID as required.
Alice K. Pate
Attachment 7. Paid review of the ACS survey instrument.
Paid review of the survey instrument used by Auburn City School, indicating the fatal flaw in the instructions to mark Box B with two calendar choices.
To quote the review, done by experienced, professional pollster Ms. Joyce Kerwin:
"This survey does not take into consideration those who oppose a change in the calendar year. Instructions should be given so that only individuals who agree with the change should complete Section B".(emphasis added)
The survey instrument was biased in favor of year round school responses.
Mr. Vance Rutherford (and others) made this known to the Auburn City Schools Superintendent well before the survey (30 October 1998). Mr. Rutherford went so far as to offer another survey ("B" also reviewed by Ms. Kerwin) that eliminated this bias. His document is attached.
(Documentation for the paid review of the Auburn City Schools survey instrument was included here. Information on documentation can be obtained from David Elton at elton@eng.auburn.edu)
Attachment 8. Auburn City School Phone survey information.
Auburn City Schools engaged Dr. Gerald Johnson, former Auburn City School Board President, of Capital Surveys, to conduct a phone poll for free. No discussion of the budget for the poll took place in the Auburn City School Board meetings attended by Dr. Elton. He has been unable to get copies of the Auburn City School minutes despite repeated requests for over a month (3 November to present).
Problems with the phone survey of Auburn residents are attached.
Note that a survey must be completed if it is to be counted at all. Incomplete surveys are discarded. Attempts to discourage citizens from completing the survey are fatal violations of survey protocol, invalidating the survey.
Steve and Nancy Kincaid k8203@auburn.campus.mci.net
November 9, 1998
My husband was surveyed tonight. They did not mention money at all, and they only offered the 4 calendars and he asked about the traditional - no luck. They asked if he was connected with the university, income, work for school system.My daughter who has a separate number was also called. I wanted to pass this on to you and Alice and if you want you can pass it on. I was not at the whole meeting, but I thought the phone survey was supposed to include questions about the cost. The interviewer did start to describe the different calendars, then stopped when he said he wanted the traditional one. I have 24 signs, was gone the weekend and worked till 10:00 tonight. Is there someone who could use some? Nancy Kincaid 8210955
November 16, 1998
Last week, Wednesday night I believe, I received a call from someone stating that she was conducting a poll and would like to speak to the youngest male member of the family. I replied that the youngest male member of my family was not at home and she asked if I was a resident of Auburn and of this address and I said, "Yes". She asked me several questions, including how familiar I was with the current issue of alternative school calendar. I responded that I was familiar with the issue and she asked how much I knew about it and I replied that I knew a good bit. She then read a passage ending with a question as the whether I would like to see a change.... or would I prefer for things to stay the same.
I replied that I would like for things to remain the same at this time and she immediately and quite brusquely asked me something about a survey. Her tone and question startled me for I thought at first that she was asking something similar to, "Do you want to do this survey?" in a tone which might mean that she felt I was being unresponsive and making her job difficult. I said, "Pardon me" I then understood that her question was, "Would I like to complete a survey"
I thought that I had already completed a survey by answering the questions she had already asked so I asked her what the survey involved -- I thought maybe she was going to send me a follow-up questionnaire or something. She said it was a series of questions and a long survey and I asked, "How long?" She said, "Very long." At that time I declined and she said thanks and goodbye. My husband listened to the whole exchange, and after I got off the phone, asked me what had happened. I told him that I felt like I had just been discouraged from completing a survey and wondered if my initial answers had anything to do with the way the rest of the conversation went.
Since I will not have children in the city schools after this year, I am a little ambivalent on the subject of the school calendar. I personally dont believe the problems with schools and learning here in Auburn have much to do with scheduling and since no one has shown me any good reason for making a change, I would vote to keep things as they are at this time. I was very concerned, however, with how the telephone survey was conducted. I wondered that if I had stated that I was for the new calendar, if the rest of the conversation would have continued in the way it did.
I called my sister-in-law to ask her if she had been polled. She had not, but agreed to let me know if she got a call and, if so, how it was handled (she indicated that she would most likely respond that she was in favor of a change). When I later talked to her, she told me that she never received a call but several of her friends had. They indicated that the survey took about 20 minutes to complete but had no other comments.
Unsigned phone survey reportRespondent willing to speak privately with Bob Dumas or Bill Ham
GET INVOLVED in the STOP YEAR-ROUND SCHOOL CITIZENS' GROUP
300 N. Dean Rd. P.O. Box 5172Auburn, AL 36830-5045 Tel: (334) 821-2266