Evanston School Calendar
Target:
Evanston School District 65 Board of Education
Sponsored by:
We the undersigned urge the Evanston School District 65 Board of Education to adopt a calendar for the 2008-2009 school year that maintains or increases the number of full, five-day, weeks of instruction and gives teachers the professional development they need without adding more early release days.
We believe that a more consistent, predictable school schedule will lead to improved learning outcomes for students and better enable parents to be actively involved in the care and education of their children. Once a final calendar is approved, we also ask that the District partner with local community organizations to develop free or low-cost enrichment and recreational programs for days/times when school is not in session.
We thank you for your time and consideration of this request.
We the undersigned urge the Evanston School District 65 Board of Education to adopt a calendar for the 2008-2009 school year that maintains or increases the number of full, five-day, weeks of instruction and gives teachers the professional development they need without adding more early release days.
We believe that a more consistent, predictable school schedule will lead to improved learning outcomes for students and better enable parents to be actively involved in the care and education of their children. Once a final calendar is approved, we also ask that the District partner with local community organizations to develop free or low-cost enrichment and recreational programs for days/times when school is not in session.
We thank you for your time and consideration of this request.
We the undersigned urge the Evanston School District 65 Board of Education to adopt a calendar for the 2008-2009 school year that maintains or increases the number of full, five-day, weeks of instruction and gives teachers the professional development they need without adding more early release days.
We believe that a more consistent, predictable school schedule will lead to improved learning outcomes for students and better enable parents to be actively involved in the care and education of their children. Once a final calendar is approved, we also ask that the District partner with local community organizations to develop free or low-cost enrichment and recreational programs for days/times when school is not in session.
We thank you for your time and consideration of this request.
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We signed the "Evanston School Calendar" petition!
# 309:
4:04 am PDT, Mar 28,
Shannon Sultan, Wisconsin
# 308:
3:09 pm PDT, Mar 21,
Raul Amezquita, Illinois
# 307:
7:00 am PDT, Mar 19,
Name not displayed, Illinois
it is really important for our children to have more time in the classroom not less. please realize this. thanks
it is really important for our children to have more time in the classroom not less. please realize this. thanks
# 306:
3:37 pm PDT, Mar 18,
Corina Zlogzower, Illinois
# 305:
3:12 pm PDT, Mar 18,
Patricia Stankovic, Illinois
I strongly oppose additional shortened days on the school calendar. In fact, I would like to see diligence in reducing the current number of shortened days. Let's dedicate a week (or two) during the summer for teacher training and education! That way no one is affected; especially not our children. Also, as we progress, let's understand and respect the fact that parents work. Allowing for teacher training during the summer protects our children's need for consistent and quality education, allows time for training for teachers, and provides for parents to experience less disruption at work.
I strongly oppose additional shortened days on the school calendar. In fact, I would like to see diligence in reducing the current number of shortened days. Let's dedicate a week (or two) during the summer for teacher training and education! That way no one is affected; especially not our children. Also, as we progress, let's understand and respect the fact that parents work. Allowing for teacher training during the summer protects our children's need for consistent and quality education, allows time for training for teachers, and provides for parents to experience less disruption at work.
# 304:
8:51 am PDT, Mar 18,
Yvette Kennedy, Illinois
I would ask that the school board reconsider any additional time off for our children. Teacher professional development, while important, should be done oustide of our children's school schedules. I think that the board should get creative with using the summer timeframe or other school holiday time to provide teacher development time.
I would ask that the school board reconsider any additional time off for our children. Teacher professional development, while important, should be done oustide of our children's school schedules. I think that the board should get creative with using the summer timeframe or other school holiday time to provide teacher development time.
# 303:
8:49 am PDT, Mar 18,
Jennifer Makely, Illinois
# 302:
4:24 am PDT, Mar 18,
Valeria Bailey, Illinois
I stronly oppose additional half-days on District 65's calendar.
I stronly oppose additional half-days on District 65's calendar.
# 301:
9:33 pm PDT, Mar 17,
Jenna Porter, Illinois
I wanted to communicate how the placement of early dismissals affects my family. My husband and I are full time employees with a 5th grade student at King Lab. Throughout the years we have had to work around the early dismissal schedule. We are looking to optimize our child's education and are finding it difficult in the District when we compare the amount of days off and interruptions to our child's schedule, to other districts. While we are thankful the school doesn't close its doors during winter storms, I find the rational inconsistent. The district provides a reason of not closing its doors during winter storms as a service to full time working parents, however, we would like to see the same rational used when coming up with the school calendar specifically the placement of early dismissal days.
I wanted to communicate how the placement of early dismissals affects my family. My husband and I are full time employees with a 5th grade student at King Lab. Throughout the years we have had to work around the early dismissal schedule. We are looking to optimize our child's education and are finding it difficult in the District when we compare the amount of days off and interruptions to our child's schedule, to other districts. While we are thankful the school doesn't close its doors during winter storms, I find the rational inconsistent. The district provides a reason of not closing its doors during winter storms as a service to full time working parents, however, we would like to see the same rational used when coming up with the school calendar specifically the placement of early dismissal days.
# 300:
7:52 pm PDT, Mar 17,
Barb Caines, Illinois
# 299:
6:23 pm PDT, Mar 17,
Mary Beth Molenaar, Illinois
As a working parent, I would appreciate having teacher workshops consolidated. I think I am fairly well organized and yet I missed one of the early release times this year. My daughter had access to a cell phone and was able to reach me and I was able to leave work early. Aside from the convenience and safety side of this issue, I have educational concerns as well that I know have already been articulated. Friends of mine who teach in elementary and junior high schools elsewhere only have 2 workshops for the entire year....
As a working parent, I would appreciate having teacher workshops consolidated. I think I am fairly well organized and yet I missed one of the early release times this year. My daughter had access to a cell phone and was able to reach me and I was able to leave work early. Aside from the convenience and safety side of this issue, I have educational concerns as well that I know have already been articulated. Friends of mine who teach in elementary and junior high schools elsewhere only have 2 workshops for the entire year....
# 298:
5:01 pm PDT, Mar 17,
J Fox, Illinois
While I heartily agree that our instructors deserve professional development, performing it while our children should be receiving instruction is detrimental to the point of schooling. Teachers do not need 20 hours of schoolday time to do things like take classes in web page design. Half days of school are disruptive to both students and families with working parents. They are hard to coordinate and expensive to manage in terms of childcare. Please find a better solution to balancing teacher education with that of our students.
While I heartily agree that our instructors deserve professional development, performing it while our children should be receiving instruction is detrimental to the point of schooling. Teachers do not need 20 hours of schoolday time to do things like take classes in web page design. Half days of school are disruptive to both students and families with working parents. They are hard to coordinate and expensive to manage in terms of childcare. Please find a better solution to balancing teacher education with that of our students.
# 297:
2:45 pm PDT, Mar 17,
Suzan Van der Lee, Illinois
# 296:
2:37 pm PDT, Mar 17,
Name not displayed, Illinois
# 295:
1:38 pm PDT, Mar 17,
Scott Bates, Illinois
# 294:
1:29 pm PDT, Mar 17,
Lisa Kezios, Illinois
Every month every year there are more days off. It is ridiculous. The kids are barely in school as it is. The teachers are off for 3 mos over the summer they can do whatever they need to take care of then!
Every month every year there are more days off. It is ridiculous. The kids are barely in school as it is. The teachers are off for 3 mos over the summer they can do whatever they need to take care of then!
# 293:
1:25 pm PDT, Mar 17,
Monica Sageman, Illinois
# 292:
1:24 pm PDT, Mar 17,
Laura Moorehead, Illinois
I believe that the district also needs to schedule any mid-week early dismissals with bona fide professional development opportunities that teachers and administrators are required to attend. I find that my child's teachers are often out of the classroom on "school days" attending seminars. This causes additional disruption of the learning process. Children need to spend more time in the classroom and meeting minimum standards should not be the goal for our students or teachers when considering curriculum or days of attendance. For my tax dollars, I would expect the target to be higher than average.
I believe that the district also needs to schedule any mid-week early dismissals with bona fide professional development opportunities that teachers and administrators are required to attend. I find that my child's teachers are often out of the classroom on "school days" attending seminars. This causes additional disruption of the learning process. Children need to spend more time in the classroom and meeting minimum standards should not be the goal for our students or teachers when considering curriculum or days of attendance. For my tax dollars, I would expect the target to be higher than average.
# 291:
1:23 pm PDT, Mar 17,
Michael Halloran, Illinois
The kids need to be in school, parents need to work, and teachers need to to be up on all the latest to teach our children a good education. There has to be a better way. If you have to have 1/2 days, make them on a Friday. Then it doesn't cut into school work or projects. What kid really wants to sit and watch a dumb movie, and what teacher wants to sit and watch it too! Let's get this together and stop having our kids suffer for less time spent in the class room.
The kids need to be in school, parents need to work, and teachers need to to be up on all the latest to teach our children a good education. There has to be a better way. If you have to have 1/2 days, make them on a Friday. Then it doesn't cut into school work or projects. What kid really wants to sit and watch a dumb movie, and what teacher wants to sit and watch it too! Let's get this together and stop having our kids suffer for less time spent in the class room.
# 290:
1:22 pm PDT, Mar 17,
Ann Covode, Illinois
# 289:
1:10 pm PDT, Mar 17,
Kimberly Wesson, Illinois
# 288:
1:09 pm PDT, Mar 17,
Carole Brite, Illinois
# 287:
12:21 pm PDT, Mar 17,
Liliana Zecker, Illinois
# 286:
12:05 pm PDT, Mar 17,
Brenda De Vaul-Payne, Illinois
As a parent I believe we really need to give this some additional thought as the calendar that we are showing is going to ask for additional support of parent with smaller children.....Our kids have more then enough time off without allowing more time on the district calendar.
As a parent I believe we really need to give this some additional thought as the calendar that we are showing is going to ask for additional support of parent with smaller children.....Our kids have more then enough time off without allowing more time on the district calendar.
# 285:
6:52 am PDT, Mar 17,
Heidi Lott, Illinois
# 284:
7:52 pm PDT, Mar 15,
William Linder, Illinois
# 283:
6:25 am PDT, Mar 15,
Mark Ingraham, Illinois
# 282:
8:39 pm PDT, Mar 14,
Alicia Vazquez, Illinois
I support an increase in the number of full, five-day weeks of instruction. During 1/2 days in my daughter's middle school, it sounds like they run from shortened period to shortened period without having much time for any significant instruction.
I support an increase in the number of full, five-day weeks of instruction. During 1/2 days in my daughter's middle school, it sounds like they run from shortened period to shortened period without having much time for any significant instruction.
# 281:
12:00 pm PDT, Mar 14,
Beth Lange, Illinois
I urge you to follow the recommendations of the District65 Calendar Committee. Please do not add any more mid-week early dismissal days to the calendar for next year. While professional development is important, please consolidate this time, utilize early dismissal times on Fridays, and do not disrupt an additional three weeks (from this year's calendar) with mid-week dismissals.
I urge you to follow the recommendations of the District65 Calendar Committee. Please do not add any more mid-week early dismissal days to the calendar for next year. While professional development is important, please consolidate this time, utilize early dismissal times on Fridays, and do not disrupt an additional three weeks (from this year's calendar) with mid-week dismissals.
# 280:
11:25 am PDT, Mar 14,
Gwen Stein, Illinois
Maximizing the number of full 5 day weeks should be a priority. Students need a consistent daily routine to be at their best. Ideally we would work towards obtaining both longer school days and a longer school year in the near future.
Maximizing the number of full 5 day weeks should be a priority. Students need a consistent daily routine to be at their best. Ideally we would work towards obtaining both longer school days and a longer school year in the near future.
# 279:
8:02 am PDT, Mar 14,
Aisha Kung, Illinois
# 278:
7:14 pm PDT, Mar 13,
Jacki Davidoff, Illinois
1/2 day dismissals are tough for families with working parents. I am very supportive of professional development -- the exposure to new ideas, the connection with a teacher community -- but I'd like the district to explore ways that offer development through a different structure.
1/2 day dismissals are tough for families with working parents. I am very supportive of professional development -- the exposure to new ideas, the connection with a teacher community -- but I'd like the district to explore ways that offer development through a different structure.
# 277:
6:30 pm PDT, Mar 13,
Name not displayed, Illinois
# 276:
5:41 pm PDT, Mar 13,
Marion Clemens, Illinois
For more impact, add a personal comment here
For more impact, add a personal comment here
# 275:
10:16 am PDT, Mar 12,
Joan Slavin, Illinois
# 274:
9:17 pm PDT, Mar 11,
Sandra E. Berg, Illinois
# 273:
4:17 pm PDT, Mar 11,
Curtis Evans, Illinois
Please consider the blue-collar workers. Promotions at work, pay increases and even jobs are impacted by your decisions. Early dismissals, especialy mid-week, can be a burden.
Please consider the blue-collar workers. Promotions at work, pay increases and even jobs are impacted by your decisions. Early dismissals, especialy mid-week, can be a burden.
# 272:
5:39 am PDT, Mar 11,
Elizabeth Butler, Illinois
# 271:
7:31 pm PDT, Mar 10,
Grace Van Til, Illinois
We should find a way to have training days not interrupt the school calendar.
We should find a way to have training days not interrupt the school calendar.
# 270:
7:24 pm PDT, Mar 10,
Roberta Holzmueller, Illinois
# 269:
7:11 pm PDT, Mar 10,
Leslie Maclin, Illinois
# 268:
2:28 pm PDT, Mar 10,
Anthony Peach, Illinois
# 267:
2:13 pm PDT, Mar 10,
Irene Freeman, Illinois
Two of my kids have been shown videos (not educational ones, in fact, they were shown episodes of The Simpsons!) on early dismissal days. This sort of use of class time on a day that counts toward the 176-day minimum is a joke. Please do not adopt a calendar that will increase the number of these days.
Two of my kids have been shown videos (not educational ones, in fact, they were shown episodes of The Simpsons!) on early dismissal days. This sort of use of class time on a day that counts toward the 176-day minimum is a joke. Please do not adopt a calendar that will increase the number of these days.
# 266:
1:37 pm PDT, Mar 10,
Irene doyle Sandler, Illinois
as a parent of a district 65 child and an evanston taxpayer for 18 years, i am indeed concerned that our kids and our community get its money's worth. the calendar is extremely important. what is on that calendar is important and it is the product i am purchasing. the quality MUST be excellent and meet the CUSTOMERS needs, not just the employees. the schools exist first and foremost for the kids. the educational needs of the kids must always be the primary and over-riding concern. the convenience of the employees and adminsitrators is a very, very distant second. the paretns who have taken the time to get involved with the calendar/professional developmenet process have our support and backing. please listen to them. i have heard and read their reports of the calendar meetings and i assure you, they do indeed speak for the majority of parents. i understand that you have a hard job, but it is also a great job that is rewarding and exciting -- especially when the home/school partnership is taken seriously and not just given obligatory lip service when convenient. thank you, irene doyle sandler, district 65 parent since 1993 to the present.
as a parent of a district 65 child and an evanston taxpayer for 18 years, i am indeed concerned that our kids and our community get its money's worth. the calendar is extremely important. what is on that calendar is important and it is the product i am purchasing. the quality MUST be excellent and meet the CUSTOMERS needs, not just the employees. the schools exist first and foremost for the kids. the educational needs of the kids must always be the primary and over-riding concern. the convenience of the employees and adminsitrators is a very, very distant second. the paretns who have taken the time to get involved with the calendar/professional developmenet process have our support and backing. please listen to them. i have heard and read their reports of the calendar meetings and i assure you, they do indeed speak for the majority of parents. i understand that you have a hard job, but it is also a great job that is rewarding and exciting -- especially when the home/school partnership is taken seriously and not just given obligatory lip service when convenient. thank you, irene doyle sandler, district 65 parent since 1993 to the present.
# 265:
1:25 pm PDT, Mar 10,
Linda Honnold, Illinois
# 264:
1:06 pm PDT, Mar 10,
Julia Works, Illinois
# 263:
10:46 am PDT, Mar 10,
Ann Mazza, Illinois
# 262:
10:35 am PDT, Mar 10,
Jane Berkley, Illinois
# 261:
8:36 am PDT, Mar 10,
Cindy Wilson, Illinois
# 260:
6:39 am PDT, Mar 10,
Barbara Wertico, Illinois
# 259:
10:31 am PDT, Mar 9,
Debbie Butz, Illinois
# 258:
7:55 am PST, Mar 7,
Dan Parker, Illinois
A more consistent school calendar with full five day weeks offers benefits to students, teachers and families. Teachers should be provided with the professional development opportunities they need without frequently putting working parents into a position of needing to take time off the job to deal with early release days. Please maintain or increase the number of full, five-day weeks of instruction to benefit all concerned.
A more consistent school calendar with full five day weeks offers benefits to students, teachers and families. Teachers should be provided with the professional development opportunities they need without frequently putting working parents into a position of needing to take time off the job to deal with early release days. Please maintain or increase the number of full, five-day weeks of instruction to benefit all concerned.
# 257:
5:39 pm PST, Mar 6,
Mary Vanderbeck Parker, Illinois
# 256:
11:20 am PST, Mar 6,
Judith S. Williams-Gordon, Illinois
Why can't the teachers use time over the summer break either like a week or two before school stars to accomplish what they need to accomplish instead of constantly interrupting the time our children are given to be educated? These constant breaks from school hours are very inconvenient for working parents not to mention unfair to our childs right to an education. I believe the ones agreeing to these extra breaks are the ones not having these changes affect them in any way.
Why can't the teachers use time over the summer break either like a week or two before school stars to accomplish what they need to accomplish instead of constantly interrupting the time our children are given to be educated? These constant breaks from school hours are very inconvenient for working parents not to mention unfair to our childs right to an education. I believe the ones agreeing to these extra breaks are the ones not having these changes affect them in any way.
# 255:
7:16 am PST, Mar 6,
Anita Rieder, Illinois
it is very hard to organize babysitting for the hours that our children have early dismissal from school. An entire day off school, rather than 5 or 6 early dismissals, would be easier on our family, especially if that day was made up later in the calendar year.
it is very hard to organize babysitting for the hours that our children have early dismissal from school. An entire day off school, rather than 5 or 6 early dismissals, would be easier on our family, especially if that day was made up later in the calendar year.
# 254:
9:04 pm PST, Mar 5,
Dan Nettesheim, Illinois
The school day is already brief. Adding more early-release days creates more days of lesser productivity and learning. Additionally, the lack of consistency in the schedule places a significant burden on families to manage a schedule that is equally erratic. I would suggest that we increase the number of full, five-day, weeks of instruction to improve our children's education.
The school day is already brief. Adding more early-release days creates more days of lesser productivity and learning. Additionally, the lack of consistency in the schedule places a significant burden on families to manage a schedule that is equally erratic. I would suggest that we increase the number of full, five-day, weeks of instruction to improve our children's education.
# 253:
7:38 pm PST, Mar 5,
Pam Waymack, Illinois
What are they thinking? The District will need to invest in more non PG13 movies so taht teachers can show films on these early release days when they have less time in class to teach their planned curriculum. Get rid of the early release days and in their place add one full day off so that parents are not always juggling and teachers and students are not always adjusting to reduced days of instruction time.
What are they thinking? The District will need to invest in more non PG13 movies so taht teachers can show films on these early release days when they have less time in class to teach their planned curriculum. Get rid of the early release days and in their place add one full day off so that parents are not always juggling and teachers and students are not always adjusting to reduced days of instruction time.
# 252:
6:51 pm PST, Mar 5,
Jason Hays, Illinois
The issues of improving our children's education through effective calendar planning should take precedence over "tweaking" existing programs that are already proven effective (ie. the advanced mathematics programs.)
The issues of improving our children's education through effective calendar planning should take precedence over "tweaking" existing programs that are already proven effective (ie. the advanced mathematics programs.)
# 251:
3:02 pm PST, Mar 5,
Elizabeth Goldenberg, Illinois
