Results of Calendar Conversation process and next steps proposed by the School Board

From the District office:

At the May 13, 2013 School Board meeting, Mary Hanson, Director of Teaching and Learning, and Superintendent Chris Richardson reviewed the Calendar Conversation process conducted in three sessions held in March and April. They provided information about the agenda, process and results of each meeting and copies of all the documents created as part of each evening’s small group activities with community participants and posted on the school calendar website. Dr. Richardson also shared the results of the Seven Calendar Concepts Online Straw Poll that was conducted between May 8^th and May 13^th. The straw poll asked participants to indicate which of the calendar options they felt merited more consideration. Straw poll results were posted on the website from approximately 475 participants.

Board Chair Ellen Iverson then led a discussion during which each Board member expressed their thoughts on what they learned from the Community Calendar Conversations and how they felt the Board should respond. Individual Board opinions ranged from maintaining the current calendar format for the foreseeable future to implementing a year round calendar with shorter breaks throughout the school year.

Based on the diverse perspectives shared during the discussion, the Board decided on a six to one vote to add a discussion item to the May 28^th School Board meeting agenda. The purpose of the discussion item will be to develop the focus of and set a date for an early summer Board work session. At the work session, Board members will have an opportunity to reflect on issues related to student learning arising from the community calendar conversations.

Above: a 65-minute video clip of the presentation and the school board’s deliberation (link will open in a new window).

 
Above: a 4-minute video clip of the school board’s decision (link will open in a new window).

The video of the entire May 13 school board meeting can be viewed here.

 
Above: Beth Berry, Northfield High School TORCH Coordinator, sent this letter to the School Board on May 10 and it was included in the Board packet for Monday’s meeting

Northfield News: Northfield School Board has yet to give district administration direction on further calendar research