School Board No Closer to Calendar Approval

Next year’s school calendar was a hot topic at Tuesday’s Pasco County School Board meeting, but a final decision has been tabled for now.

United School Employees of Pasco Union president Lynne Webb presented the calendar committee’s draft of the 2012-13 school calendar, telling board members that “the stars have aligned” with the way dates fall on the calendar next year.

“We have the opportunity to do something our teachers have been asking for,” Webb said.

Teachers have taken 3 percent paycuts and accepted two furlough days, among other concessions, Webb said.

“Why can’t we give them a calendar that they so desperately want?”

The proposed calendar includes a full week off at Thanksgiving, while eliminating a Veteran’s Day holiday.

The proposed winter holiday break would keep students in class through Dec. 21 and see them return to school on Jan. 8.

Webb said approving the calendar committee’s recommendations would not make teachers expect the same calendar in subsequent years.

“The employees are used to having their expectations dashed,” Webb said.

One of the concerns is that students could end up having tests fall after the break, Superintendent Heather Fiorentino said.

Summer school scheduling is also a concern, Fiorentino said. “As the budget crunches become harder, we’re trying to keep summer school in the same fiscal year.”

One big problem district officials face is the start date set by Florida law: School cannot start more than 14 days before Labor Day. The district also must balance the number of days before and after the winter break, school board chairwoman Joanne Hurley said in a previous.

If the start date can’t be changed, that takes many options off the table, board member Allen Altman said.

“I would like to give the two days of at Thanksgiving,” board member Alison Crumbley said. But if doing so pushes exams to after holidays, that could be detrimental to students, she said.

“Taking those two days in the first semester is going to impact students more than adults who want to know when they can take a vacation,” board member Steve Luikart said.

Luikart wants to do what’s best for students, he said.

“I know everybody’s getting beat up over the calendar,” Altman said.  

Altman said he realizes teachers and parents need it so they can start planning, but that he is “torn between wanting to get it done and wanting to make it work.”

“I’d like to have the ability to come back and work on it,” Altman said.

School board vice-chairwoman Cynthia Armstrong motioned to table the discussion until the next regular board meeting at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 21. Altman seconded the motion.

Meanwhile, the school board's task force is still investigating a . Three public forums are being held to gather input from county residents:

• 6:30 p.m. Feb. 9 at Pasco Middle School
• 6:30 p.m. Feb. 15 at Rushe Middle School
• 6:30 p.m. Feb. 16 at River Ridge Performing Arts Center

For more information about the forums, contact the district’s communications department at 813-794-2717.