SCHOOL MAKE-UP DAYS: District announces post-strike plan

Just in from Seattle Public Schools:

The following makeup days for a revised school calendar have now been finalized with our SEA partners, pending approval by the Board of Directors on October 7.

Please mark your home and school calendars accordingly.

School Year Calendar Changes

With the Board’s approval, the following days will now be regular school days:

Fri., Oct. 9
Fri., Jan. 29
Wed., Feb. 17, Thurs., Feb.18, and Fri., Feb. 19. This is a shortened mid-winter break.
Fri., June 24

Seattle Public Schools staff and the Seattle Education Association worked together to finalize the 2015-16 school year calendar to adjust for the school days missed by the teacher strike.

State law requires school districts conduct a school year of no less than 180 school days in such grades as are conducted by the school district, and 180 half-days of instruction, or the equivalent, in kindergarten. The district and its partners needed to meet that requirement and looked for the best options for adjusting the calendar that works for families.

Looking back at the original calendar – October 9th was supposed to be an off-day for students but NOT for teachers; January 29th, everybody was supposed to be out for the “day between semesters”; June 24th was held as a possible “snow (makeup) day.” June 27th, apparently, will remain on the calendar as a potential “snow day.”

HPk mom September 25, 2015 (3:23 pm)

Three cheers for shortened midwinter break! That break is ridiculous–students are just getting back into the swing of things and then–boom–another disruption. I’m really disappointed to see that the week-long midwinter break will remain a part of the calendar for at least the duration of the new contract. I just cannot imagine any way that this break is beneficial to our children’s education.

Gatewood Mom September 25, 2015 (3:31 pm)

That schedule makes total sense. SPS actually made a decent decision!

Brian September 25, 2015 (3:44 pm)

It’s sort of funny to me that all of the “make up days” are just normal days of the year anyway. It’s not like anyone is skipping a holiday or coming in on a Saturday here.

Junction Mom too September 25, 2015 (3:58 pm)

Boooo for taking mid winter break! Take those days from the end of June, since the spring rain doesn’t stop until July 5th anyway. Who wants to sit around Seattle in February?! Spring break is when it starts to get nice here, I don’t want to go away in April. You all can stay here those February days, we’ll be in Disneyland, thanks for the short lines.

Trickycoolj September 25, 2015 (4:05 pm)

Sounds like Seniors can probably graduate on time. I recall hearing stories of other districts where the seniors walked at graduation and had to go back for a few weeks (North Thurston 1990s was one). Hopefully there isn’t a major weather event that adds to the end of school this year.

Mike September 25, 2015 (4:07 pm)

So who do I file a reimbursement claim with for costs I cannot recoup for the trip I’ve paid for? Anyone have a district and SEA contact for that? If not, do I just send my lawyer at them? Class action lawsuit?

ZS September 25, 2015 (4:10 pm)

Midwinter break is nice for families and teachers that like to vacation in the winter (ex: ski trip, escape to the tropics, etc.). The Holiday break can also work for this but most people are tied up with other obligations, plus it’s very expensive to travel.

gatewood parent September 25, 2015 (4:18 pm)

What a bunch of horse manure. The district and the teachers should be ashamed of themselves. The teachers win, the district wins, and families, students and taxpayers heft the burden.

Sixteen tons and what do you get . . .

Marine view mom September 25, 2015 (4:29 pm)

HPk mom, I totally agree! Mid-winter break is unnecessary at best. And not everyone has the time off and means to take off and go on vacation in the middle of February either! 😏

Wes C. Addle September 25, 2015 (4:34 pm)

@ Mike
Really?!?! Good luck with that one. lol. Just take your kids out of school for those days. Kids aren’t required to be in school every single day. Do you make them go to school when they’re sick? Go on vacation and have a good time.

wsea September 25, 2015 (4:46 pm)

@HPK and @Marine view mom – the issue is not the relevance of mid-winter break but the expectation. People plan based on dates communicated in advance. What if the district moved the entire school year back a month during the school year. I’m sure it would cause disruption to your vacation or other plans. Also, your ability to not take time off should not be a regional issue for others.

I have no skin in the game but I feel for those who have family time built into the school scheduled time off. I enjoy my winter break with the kids to adventure and unwire.

Kadoo September 25, 2015 (4:57 pm)

Mid winter break is ridiculous. It’s February, it’s raining, and it’s prime instructional time. Not everyone can fly off to a warmer climate. It’d be better to just keep classes going.

Qforrest September 25, 2015 (8:16 pm)

Mid winter break is silly and pushes the end of school out too far. Lots of people plan trips as soon as school ends too. Which,y’know,have a decent chance of nice weather.

Marie September 25, 2015 (10:34 pm)

Kadoo- I agree completely.

Karen September 26, 2015 (3:41 am)

SPS does not consider family vacations to be excused absences. I wonder if exceptions will be made this year for families that have already made plans.

Bonnie September 26, 2015 (7:34 am)

I have planned my family vacations when there is not an actual vacation. Hey, if they can excuse for the Seahawks they can excuse for family vacations. I am glad they are cutting mid winter break. We just had winter break, don’t need another!

Mrs.T September 26, 2015 (8:35 am)

It is a small price to pay for what the strike accomplished. I am a fan of mid winter break though. Glad they are making it a regular thing.

Klm September 26, 2015 (9:14 am)

Thank you SEA and SPS for getting this all figured out reasonably. As a educator and parent in SPS, I have always disliked mid-winter break. It is indeed a missed opportunity for valuable instruction. Plus it makes the school year end so late (which is later by far than those of friends and family stretched across the nation). Summer weather actually began in May this year. To those who are upset about vacation plans, I say be flexible. Life is not fair and this is not a violation of some expected certainty in life’s wants.

NativetoSeattle September 26, 2015 (1:02 pm)

One of the items during the strike was creating a more predictable calendar. I haven’t looked at the final agreement, but I thought I read that mid-winter break would now be every year, starting next year. It’s not my favorite either, but I really didn’t like the every-other year routine.
Has anyone seen the final agreement? Did they approve having mid-winter break every year?

Sorry, comment time is over.