The Mendon Upton Regional School Committee will be sending out a 360 survey as part of their assessment on whether the district should eliminate February and April vacation and move towards one vacation in March. The survey will also poll different ways to make up snow days used this year.
At the February 10 School Committee meeting District Superintendent Dr. Joseph Maruszczak said a snow day on February 13 would move the last day of school to June 23rd.
Member Chris Russo asked if the district ever considered going with one vacation in March and eliminating the February and April vacations. Chris stated he was not advocating this move, “I’m not for this, just as a disclaimer.”
“I would not advocate that,” said Dr. Maruszczak. “I do think there’s a rhythm of the school year. I think quite frankly whoever invented the school calendar to say okay, we come back from the holidays we have six weeks, a break, six weeks, a break, and six weeks, and then the end of the school year; I think the man or woman was brilliant.” Dr. Maruszczak stated there is an ebon flow of the school year and there is value in kids getting that week in February and April off. He said this was his perspective not only as a superintendent but also as a former high school principal and most importantly, teacher. “From working in schools, from working with kids I think it makes a great deal of sense,” Maruszczak said in reference to keeping February and April vacation in place.
Member Leana Moore said, “I personally would love to get rid of that friggin vacation week. But that’s just as a parent who feels like you know I have my kids home…..”
Member Diane Duncan wondered how the teachers felt about the schedule, “I kind of feel they are just getting back in January and then they are off.” Duncan would like to know if the teachers feel as if they are getting into a groove and the groove is cut short because of the vacation. “I think that the heart of the decision should be what is best for the kids and the teachers. I think that’s what is most important” said Duncan.
Committee Members discussed how having to adjust the schedule to accommodate snow days impacts the school year; how eliminating one week of vacation would keep the school year shorter. Members agreed classrooms get hot and most kids are in a wind down mode mid June. Members also discussed who was in charge of changing the school calendar as some believed this would ultimately be Dr. Maruszczak’s decision. Dr. Maruszczak clarified that establishing the school calendar is the school committee’s responsibility, not his.
“But we’re not educators,” said Russo.
“That’s why you do a 360 survey. You try and get a well-rounded view of what would be best for the kids,” said Duncan.
After some discussion the committee decided they would put together a 360 survey which would go out to parents, teachers, and administrators. The survey will also serve to find out where parents, teachers, and administrators stand regarding adjusting this year’s calendar to make up snow days during the school year rather than tacking them on at the end of June.
UPTON DAILY 
Awesome idea. This is how it worked at the school my children attended. They rarely had a day off, but they did have a week for Thanksgiving, a week (or a couple days more depending on how the days hit) at Christmas/New Year’s, one week in March, nothing in February or April, and then end sooner in June. They did have Columbus, Veterans, MLK, President’s, and Memorial days off, but there was never another full day off scheduled all year.
Let’s ALL be honest, nothing much happens in classrooms after Memorial Day that is of any significance. At that point they are soley putting in time and helping the teachers clean out their stuff in their rooms..
I believe the best way to find out what is best for the kids would be to have the kids take the survey. Not everyone but the kids.
I am all for it, with the weather being the nicest in June through the summer the idea of still being in school for that month burns me up. Also it gets in the way of making vacation plans for those of us who have to travel three days one way by car to get home but still want to do our favorite New England summer things. Also there is the cost of having to entertain children for those two weeks or pay for a camp/babysitter.
love the idea. lets do it!!
love the idea.