Hawaii public schools go to 4 day school week

[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?

[dtengineering]

Here in British Columbia some northern districts went to a four day school week a few years ago, however that was a move to cut HEATING and bussing costs as opposed to cutting COOLING and bussing costs. They did it, however, by increasing the length of the school day on the four days they are running.

From what I understand, they are not in any particular hurry to switch back, and are actually kind of liking it.

Province-wide we have also had job actions (typically strikes, but also lock-outs) that have shut schools for more than a week, most recently a two-week shut down about three or four years back. There has been very little evidence that student learning was harmed by a one-time system shutdown such as this.

So I wouldn't be too worried about the effect on this year's students' education, assuming they make up for the missed time with a bit of extra homework (and that the school schedule can spread the lost time equally across classes). How it works out if the schedule is cut for a longer period of time... that I don't know.

What I do know is that the quantity of time a student spends in school is far less important than the quality of the time that they spend in school. If, by sacrificing quantity, the system is preserving quality, it is probably a fair trade.

As for your build time, over the past few years we have been trying to embrace the idea that while FIRST is an exciting and valuable part of life, it is just that... a part of life. We work hard on our robot Monday through Thursday... from 3:00 to 9:00 typically, but try to take Friday, Saturday and Sunday off when possible.... although towards the end of the build we have been known to work through the weekend, too.

To do this we have had to concentrate on simplifying our designs and, as we focus on thinking more and building less, we have found that our machines have performed at least as well as we did in our "build till you drop" past.

Good luck... you may find this works out great!

Jason

[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.

[waialua359]

Football games on Mondays?
http://www.kitv.com/sports/21051051/detail.html

[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?

[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.

[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.