Volume 17, Issue 45
Serving Durham, Middlefield and Rockfall
Community do-gooders
Friday, Februar y 18, 2011
BOE talks snow day makeups and calendar issues By Elisabeth Kennedy Special to Town Times
Fourth graders at IDS participated in the 4th Annual “Teens for Jeans” drive sponsored by Aeropostale. For students, this service learning project is an opportunity to give back to the community by providing gently used jeans for youth in need to local area homeless shelters. Photo submitted by JoAnn Rider
Help Willy’s Friends held a collection drive on Dec. 18 at the Middlefield Community Center called Riding for Rudolph. They collected over 400 lbs. of food and $115 within a two-hour period. Photos submitted by Mark Paturzo
Before opening the Feb. 9 Board of Education (BOE) meeting, chairman Tom Hennick shared a notification from the state of Connecticut that all schools must be in session at least 180 days, no Saturday or Sundays, and no classes beyond June 30. Hennick reminded the audience that the 2010-11 calendar clearly indicates that additional snow days will be taken from April vacation, and there are few alternatives. Most speakers wanted to safeguard April vacation, preferring days be taken from the February vacation. Others expressed concern that February vacation is necessary to clean and sanitize the schools during cold and flu season and roads are more dangerous. Still other parents who are teachers asked that both vacations remain on future school calendars to ensure family vacations, preferring that snow days be added in June. Other parents requested that students get out earlier in June for work, camp and summer fun. Prepared for these arguments, Hennick reported that the district’s staff and parents were polled about February and April vacations. Superintendent Sue Viccaro confirmed that 74 staff members will be out in February, 42 in April and indicated that she cannot run the schools with 74 staff members out. Professional development timing debate continues Other public comments concerned professional development days, primarily the hardship delayed openings cause working parents, as well as a request that there be no professional development days in February to ensure maximum instruction/re-
view prior to CMTs. Hennick explained that the state requires the district to provide the time as part of the SRBI (Scientific Research Based Intervention) assessments. Brewster School principal Nancy Heckler explained the many benefits of pulling teaching teams together in the morning and added that students actually gain instruction time as there is no recess or snack time. She reported tremendous improvement in the literacy push due to these on-going team assessments and strategy sessions. Parents questioned whether it is more important that students are fresher in the morning, but Heckler said students jump in much faster in the afternoon. Another parent expressed frustration at late openings and questioned why it is suddenly the most effective way to do professional development. Hennick suggested holding a forum for parents to better understand the SRBI assessments and work being done during the professional development sessions. He also agreed to consider a compromise on early dismissal and late openings for the next school calendar. Custodians and building crews recognized The public also expressed gratitude to the custodians for an outstanding job keeping schools clean despite snow and sand outside as well as the building crews who are removing snow from sidewalks, driveways and roofs. Kudos See BOE, page 4
In this issue ... Calendar............................4 Spotlight..........................15 Obituary.........................18 Sports ..........................19-23 Town Briefs.....................13