Hawaii public schools go to 4 day school week

[waialua359]

Originally Posted by JB987

Glenn,
I wonder how a Friday is any different than a weekend day? Didn't you previously work on weekends? And isn't a Friday under this scenario just one more weekend day?

Joe,
At first, that's what I thought.........just like a weekend day.
But later, was told otherwise by our admin, but they are not 100% sure.

I wonder if its because of cutting other costs, such as electricity. Our athletic director also said that they were talking about rescheduling football games also that fell on a furlough day.

I guess it remains to be seen.

AP teachers have been in great discussion the past several days. Based on our school schedule, kids will lose out of 40% of AP instruction time per week. Ouch!

[Tristan Lall]

I had the same thoughts as Rich et al.....

This reminds me a little of what we in Ontario called "Rae days", after the Ontario premier who, in 1993, introduced something similar for most provincial workers. It did not enjoy the support of the major public service workers' unions, and was unpopular among my teachers at the time (presumably because their pay was being cut despite their collective bargaining agreement).

(What happened to the premier, Bob Rae? His party was soundly defeated in the next provincial election, mostly because of the unpopularity of this program.)

As implemented in the Scarborough public schools, Rae days were a bit different from what's apparently being proposed in Hawaii. Many of the unpaid days were concatenated on to the March break (and similar things), rather than cancelling two of every five Fridays.

How long is the Hawaii school year, anyway? Around 180 instructional days per annum?

[Al Skierkiewicz]

Glenn,
Isn't there some federal limits on attendance days that have to be met? I hate to ask the question but is there going to be an impact on school trips like competitions where students will be out for a few days? I agree it is better to be working but it is a hard decision for your union to make.

[JohnBoucher]

Originally Posted by Al Skierkiewicz

Glenn,
Isn't there some federal limits on attendance days that have to be met? I hate to ask the question but is there going to be an impact on school trips like competitions where students will be out for a few days? I agree it is better to be working but it is a hard decision for your union to make.

Apparently it's decided by the states. This was never passed.
http://thomas.loc.gov/home/gpoxmlc111/s804_is.xml
http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=s110-804

[JB987]

School hours/days are indeed determined by the state, however most school districts wish their schools to be accredited by independent agencies like the Northwest Accreditation agency to lend enough validity to their programs so colleges feel that kids from participating districts are meeting certain standards. One of the standards is seat time for kids and the reduction described by Glenn comes nowhere near the hours criteria of any agency I know of. Hard to imagine a whole state ignoring accreditation but desperate times bring desperate measures...

If your state does allow exceptions for volunteer work on your long weekends you should be ok, right Glenn?

[waialua359]

We were under the assumption that you could work outside the doe. As for minimum no. of instruction days/hours, there isn't any.

[TKM.368]

Well, teachers overwhelmingly voted to ratify, so we're off to alternating (or so) Fridays off. While I don't think it will affect the build season (frees up more time actually for the students), I am concerned about taking students out of school more than necessary (mainland regional) if they're already missing 17 days of instruction as it is...

[GaryVoshol]

Didn't Hawaii provide funding assistance for teams? What's the status of that now?

[cdebo]

Glen,

You are always welcome at Sacred Hearts on your off days. I will even waive the "no boy" rule. I realize this offer is hollow since we have 1/8th the equipment and space as you and it would mean trucking your team and robot to the other side of the island, but if you need some space we can always find it here at the Academy.

[waialua359]

Originally Posted by GaryVoshol

Didn't Hawaii provide funding assistance for teams? What's the status of that now?

That's a good question. Through our Act 111, it supported an array of expenses for the various robotics programs/competitions the last couple of years.
I am assuming that hasn't changed since VEX kits were purchased for schools that are participating through that funding already.

As for covering registration fees for the hawaii regional, 368 or the UH College of Engineering could probably shed more light on that question. I know that we had funding, but I'm not sure how much is left for this and future FRC seasons.
Hawaii teams are depending on that to overcome the registration hurdle.

The concern that FRC students will miss lots of school in addition to 17 less days is a good one.

[Bertman]

HI Guys,

418 has always worked Monday thru Thursday and Saturday Mornings as our only work time. I beieve that that day off gives both the students and mentors a good break and we therefore work more efficiently (though I know this is subject for debate).

You guys have a tremendous program and lots of talent. I think you will grow from this situation and emerge even stronger. Hang loose.

[Akash Rastogi]

Originally Posted by waialua359

AP teachers have been in great discussion the past several days. Based on our school schedule, kids will lose out of 40% of AP instruction time per week. Ouch!

Wow that's pretty drastic.

Is there a chance of reconsideration, Glenn? Or has this been finalized?

[waialua359]

Originally Posted by Akash Rastogi

Wow that's pretty drastic.

Is there a chance of reconsideration, Glenn? Or has this been finalized?

My guess is that the teachers will pass this. The alternative that has been discussed, is a straight pay cut. The school budget and teachers are already stretched. I would suspect some teachers are going to use their time to find work.
I just want to add that it doesnt help morale for teachers as everyone is already struggling in this bad economy. Personally, I have a part-time job, and plan on working more to make up for the 7.94% furlough cut.
I dont teach AP Physics anymore, but if I did, I probably would have afterschool sessions on the days we have school.

[Akash Rastogi]

Originally Posted by waialua359

I dont teach AP Physics anymore, but if I did, I probably would have afterschool sessions on the days we have school.

I'm hoping the kids also take it on themselves to prepare for the AP test as most do. Its not too bad with the proper resources.

Anyhow, best of luck with the rest of the year. I really hope everything works out for you and 359.

See you in NJ?

[MasterRobot]

I wish team 359 luck in finding a way to make this work, though i do offer a word of caution. This weekend i was lucky enough to attend a meeting about the furlow/contract ideas. The problems that they brought up with working on the furlow days is that it would be a violation of labor laws. Problems could be created because between the union and the department of education. I did get to ask if it was possible for teachers to volunteer time (thinking about how crazy FRC season can get) however the response was that if teachers are volunteering time for a job they usually do, then department of education would be obligated to pay them. This of course leads to other problems with labor laws and such. However, teachers can volunteer (without pay) for a job that they do not usually do.

I'm not sure if any of that sheds light on ways that Hawaii public school teams can find ways to work on potential furlow days, but i do wish team 359 as well as the other teams the best of luck.