The School Committee will meet July 1 at the Holten-Richmond School to take up the issue of the 2008-2009 school calendar that proved too explosive to settle last week. The committee, with only three of five members in attendance at a special meeting Wednesday, June 18, voted to table the issue after hearing from parents upset with the prospect of early release days every other Tuesday to allow for professional development. School Committee members Jean McCartin and Arthur Skarmeas were absent. The only agenda item at this next meeting is the school calendar, said Superintendent Lisa Dana. “We are taking in all the feedback that we’ve received from the meeting on June 18. I continue to meet with our leadership,” she said. Catherine Wolniewicz had alerted parents to the change after attending the June 9 School Committee meeting when the proposed calendar passed unanimously in a first reading. A second vote in favor would have made it the rule. The June 18 meeting, held at 5:30 p.m. at the Smith School and lasting four hours, attracted a hundred or more people, coming and going as they returned from work or as they hurried home to take care of hungry, tired children. “There were a lot of questions and concerns about special education and the scheduling conflicts at the high school and middle schools,” said Wolniewicz this week. “I think people brought forth in every conceivable way every concern, in a very professional manner.” She has ...
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The School Committee will meet July 1 at the Holten-Richmond School to take up the issue of the 2008-2009 school calendar that proved too explosive to settle last week. The committee, with only three of five members in attendance at a special meeting Wednesday, June 18, voted to table the issue after hearing from parents upset with the prospect of early release days every other Tuesday to allow for professional development. School Committee members Jean McCartin and Arthur Skarmeas were absent. The only agenda item at this next meeting is the school calendar, said Superintendent Lisa Dana. “We are taking in all the feedback that we’ve received from the meeting on June 18. I continue to meet with our leadership,” she said. Catherine Wolniewicz had alerted parents to the change after attending the June 9 School Committee meeting when the proposed calendar passed unanimously in a first reading. A second vote in favor would have made it the rule. The June 18 meeting, held at 5:30 p.m. at the Smith School and lasting four hours, attracted a hundred or more people, coming and going as they returned from work or as they hurried home to take care of hungry, tired children. “There were a lot of questions and concerns about special education and the scheduling conflicts at the high school and middle schools,” said Wolniewicz this week. “I think people brought forth in every conceivable way every concern, in a very professional manner.” She has ...