By papertrucker

August 11, 2007 8:24 PM | Link to this

ya gotta love dayton if not MOVE

By Laura

August 8, 2007 3:08 PM | Link to this

Alwazaprincess: There are window A/C units in all the closed buildings. They could probably get some sympathetic businesses to kick in for a/c for the rest they needed. As a matter of fact, you are correct about some teachers who were willing to buy their own units. Our teachers were told that they could have them if they permitted DPS to choose them, paid the cost of having maintenance install them and then donate them to the district. In other words- teachers would have to pay about triple what it would cost them to just buy a unit.

By Alwazaprincess

August 8, 2007 1:19 PM | Link to this

I have to agree with many of the comments expressed thus far. But, let me add a few more. The Admin. downtown need to come and do a tour of duty in the cafeterias during a lunch period. The students aren’t eating lunch. They are too hot and sick to their stomachs to eat. When they go through the lunch line they really just want that tiny little carton of sugar laced juice. The lunch ladies MAKE them take 3 items (Goverment regulations ya know). So why couldn’t they take 3 juices??? Nope, has to be food. The students come out of the lunch line and throw their lunches right into the trash can (Our tax dollars at work). Then the students go sit down at the lunch tables. The cafeterias in many buildings have no windows and most of the fans (if there are any) aren’t working. Let’s see, no fans, no windows, the smell of disgusting food and probably 150 degrees. Oh yeah, and the kids are packed next to each other to eat??? Add also to that the fact that the DPS head of nutrition services sent an email out to all the principals telling them that the cases of water (that comes out of the principal funds) can’t be stored in the lunchroom huge walk in coolers!!!! I have seen those coolers. Even when all the lunch foods are in there, there is plenty of room left over to store those measly cases of water. So now we have water for students and staff (maybe one bottle a day) that is luke warm at best. I am glad DPS has had to close school. Asking teachers to teach and students to learn in this heat is inhumane! Also, that one post is wrong. Not ALL of the schools are to be rebuilt in the next year. Some are still 3 years away. I really and truly want everyone from downtown to come and spend a DAY in this heat. Not just a 10 or 20 minute tour and then back to their air conditioned cars to go to the next building. Also, why not take air conditioners from old buildings not being used like Roosevelt or the old admin. building and put them in the classrooms without air. Some teachers bought air conditioners on their own and helped each other put them in their windows only to have the district maintenance people take them out and tell them they will file a grievance because it wasn’t done by a work order (like we really believe they will get to that work order in this century!) So what is the answer? I am really not sure. Maybe going back to the old traditional calender until ALL buildings on the district are done and have full a/c. BTW, just because it might “cool” down in the 80’s, these old buildings will retain the heat and will STILL be over 100 degrees inside!As far as blaming Dr. Mack, I am sure that is not the answer either. He is not the man controlling the weather nor the Board of Ed. Maybe it is time for some of the people who are continuiously posting on this blog complaining about Dr. Mack and the Board to go to the board meetings and speak up there! As a citizen it is your right.

By lou

August 7, 2007 11:08 PM | Link to this

I agree that the only schools that should be closed are those not air conditioned. I know if my room had air I would rather be teaching. But can’t teach in a room that is 110 degrees, well effectively.

By jalyn cantrell

August 7, 2007 7:26 PM | Link to this

well i say that students that go to school with air should go to school.

By Patty

August 7, 2007 1:32 PM | Link to this

I think this says it all. It is not an opinion, it is a fact. Regardless of what schedule we are on, the school district needs to close the schools for the rest of this week. Why are we even debating this. School should be closed for the rest of the week, end of story! The National Weather Service has our community under an …EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM EDT|FRIDAY… HIGH TEMPERATURES IN THE LOWER TO MID 90S ALONG WITH HUMID|CONDITIONS WILL RESULT IN HEAT INDEX VALUES UP TO 105 THIS|AFTERNOON. AS WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY HIGHS CLIMB INTO THE UPPER|90S…HEAT INDICES WILL REACH BETWEEN 105 AND 110 DEGREES. AN EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING IS ISSUED WHEN HIGH HUMIDITIES ARE|EXPECTED TO COMBINE WITH HOT TEMPERATURES TO MAKE IT FEEL LIKE IT|IS 105 DEGREES OR GREATER. PERSONS IN THE WARNING AREA ARE|ADVISED TO AVOID PROLONGED WORK IN SUN…OR IN POORLY VENTILATED|AREAS. ALSO…KEEP PLENTY OF LIQUIDS ON HAND AND TRY TO STAY IN|AN AIR CONDITIONED ENVIRONMENT. CHILDREN…THE ELDERLY AND PEOPLE|WITH CHRONIC AILMENTS ARE USUALLY THE FIRST TO SUFFER FROM THE|HEAT. HEAT EXHAUSTION…CRAMPS…OR IN EXTREME CASES HEAT STROKE|CAN RESULT FROM PROLONGED EXPOSURE TO THESE CONDITIONS. FRIENDS…| RELATIVES…OR NEIGHBORS SHOULD CHECK ON PEOPLE WHO MAY BE AT|RISK. REMEMBER…AN EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING MEANS HAZARDOUS WEATHER|CONDITIONS ARE IMMINENT OR HIGHLY LIKELY.

By Anne

August 7, 2007 12:53 PM | Link to this

Laura is correct. Current research does not support year-round schools. The gains that were expected have note surfaced and no notable gains have in been found in studies. The year-round schedule hurts attendance, too. Parents take the break times to visit relatives… and end up taking children out 2 days before breaks, or bring them back 2-3 days after break. Teachers must also review school rules, procedures, as well as educational material each time there is a return from break. All of this amounts to less time to learn new material. Combine this with children being sent to school without basic skills needed (like knowing their names or where they live) and the recipe for disaster is simmering. So how do we affect change?

By KimOH

August 7, 2007 12:12 PM | Link to this

My daughter goes to Troy, and I’m glad we don’t have year round. Only one of our bldgs has air, so it’s not practical. It also sucks for older kids - what about summer jobs? You can’t go out and get a job just for a 2 week break. Since she is an honor student, her academics are too demanding to work much during school - but she wants to buy a car, take a trip to NY with her Thespian troupe and go to college. I can’t afford to give her all of these things - she has to help earn them. The longer break gives her an opportunity to work more hours and learn some lessons about life itself. So it’s not all about vacation and hanging out by the pool at our house!

By Barb

August 7, 2007 11:41 AM | Link to this

The Littlejohn Board? Littlejohn and Co.? Maybe that is one of the big problems in DPS. I think it should be the DAYTON Board of Education. Now Littlejohn will be deciding on yet another Board member. To think I truly believed the slogan “Kid’s First” when it came out. I definately have a different opinion now. Scott keep those notes where Littlejohn told you she would never seek other public offices.

By Laura

August 7, 2007 10:42 AM | Link to this

Sorry, Jennifer, you are wrong. I did a lot of research regarding the advantages of year-round school when Dayton first decided to go this route. It is not better academically for the students. There is no evidence that supports either side. The slight, non-statistical edge goes to the traditional calendar. In fact, you will find that the schools that initiated year-round schools in California are now reverting back to a traditional calendar because there has been no advantage and the majority of parents prefer a traditional calendar. Regardless, the issue here is that DPS did not plan well for this experiment. As to the writer from Georgia, I don’t know where you live but I will go out on a limb and say it is highly unlikely that your schools are not air conditioned. I have a friend who teaches in South Carolina and she maintains that the state legislature does not allow them to operate before Labor Day and without air conditioning. I cannot imagine that Georgia would be much different. It doesn’t matter whether some who are not in the classroom want to tell us it is OK to be there, the bottom line is that the National Weather Service had issued a weather advisory on Monday and that should have been enough. I would not have sent my child. I know that there are too many times when DPS promises things like water and it doesn’t happen. Besides, when we did get them several years ago, we only got one bottle per day. That is not enough for anyone.

By TJ

August 7, 2007 9:45 AM | Link to this

It’s unfortunate that this has happened. But like many things DPS does, they don’t think all their actions through. I believe in a year-around approach (or modified), but only if you have the infrastructure to support it. In this case it’s air conditioning in the classrooms if you’re going to start school in August or you roll the dice with Mother Nature. Like so many ideas they have for educating the children they don’t develope the plan from the ground up. Rather, they take a good plan and make it look bad because the core structure to make the plan successful does not exist. Similar to having elementary students change classes when the school buildings don’t have the infrastructure (bells, lockers, etc) to really support that operating structure. There are many other examples of good ideas that lack the proper ground up success planning. This good idea should have probably waited until the new buildings were finished so everyone would have air conditioning in August.

By Scott Elliott

August 7, 2007 9:38 AM | Link to this

Let me give the school board’s side of the story on the calendar change. When I started covering the district in 1999, the merging of the calendars was almost an annual joke. Just about every year the administration would sabre rattle about going to one calendar to save money, but the year-round parents would get angry and the district would back down. Running two calendars was very costly. It meant there was almost never a time when there were no DPS buses on the road. It made routing and scheduling very complex, especially as the number of charter schools that were being bused grew. The Littlejohn board was elected in 2001 and for the first time the district got serious about solving this problem. The board liked the potential savings of one calendar. Also, Littlejohn & Co. believed in the year round concept. They argued a shorter summer would keep kids from backsliding. And they hoped to use the intercession breaks for intervention with kids who were struggling. (Note: the interventions have not been a big success. Far fewer kids than expected have attended them.) I think they probably wanted to take the whole district to year round schools, but there were problems. That meant 3/4 of the schools would have to make a dramatic calendar change. They worried about kids not showing up in July and about the heat. So they compromised. Instead of a six week summer, they went with a 10 week summer (traditional calendar is a 12 week summer). They also said at the time that the move to new buildings would eventually solve the problem of summer heat. It will take about three more years to get the rest of the new schools built. Essentially, they decided to gut it out until then. One commenter is correct that a large number of new schools come online in the 2008-09 school year. So that should reduce the problem a lot if everyone can survive this summer and next. Anyway, I think that’s what the school board would tell you — that they wanted the move both as a money saver and because they thought it was educationally sound. BTW, I think it fair to say the public meetings about the proposed calendar change back then had no impact on the board’s view of the issue, as another commenter noted. I went to those meetings. There was not much discussion. The board presented and then defended its plan.

By urban_girl 75

August 7, 2007 9:37 AM | Link to this

Traci- The issue is NOT going to school when it is terribly hot outside. The issue is being stuck in a classroom WITHOUT a/c. There is a huge difference! Most DPS teachers would be fine going back at the beginning of August if ALL the buildings had a/c. Would you be willing to work all day in a classroom or building where the temperature exceeded 100 degrees? That was my room yesterday!

By Barb

August 7, 2007 9:15 AM | Link to this

How much money does it actually save when they have a hybrid calendar? It was really nice when parents had a choice whether they wanted year round or traditional calendar? We were told one of the driving reasons for the hybrid calendar was testing and to allow students to have more time in the classroom before testing. In Elementary the testing is not until May so with a traditional calendar or tweaking the calendar to start later in August we still have the same amount of days as the traditional calendar. The other problem is that in August our attendance in the classroom is so erratic we spend a lot of time still reviewing. I do not want to teach new material when I know I am missing 5 or 6 kids a day and will have to reteach that material when they come to school and the other students will have to be put on hold to get everyone caught up. To those who say well we did not have air conditioning and that was alright for us I ask do you turn it off now that is avaliable? No working in the fields may not be hotter than a stuffy classroom with no breeze, fans for a little relief and students packed in next to each other. The temperature in a brick building does not drop at night so in the morning you are already starting out much hotter than the temperature outside.

By Traci

August 7, 2007 8:38 AM | Link to this

I live in the South (Georgia) and our kids go back this week where the temperature is just as hot or hotter. The problem with our kids nowadays is clearly the adults/parents as witnessed by the above comments. Let’s keep kids out as long as possible then send them back after 3 months for the teachers to spend countless days/weeks re-teaching what they learned last year. Sure that’s the answer for Dayton Schools. NOT!

By jennifer

August 7, 2007 7:36 AM | Link to this

Those of you who are critizing DPS for year round, really need to do your homework about the benefit to your children. Yes, the school board has issues, BUT they are doing what is right for the children, give them a break. Before you critize the system about year round, do some research, studies have show that year round is the best way to teach the younger kids.

By Laura

August 7, 2007 1:08 AM | Link to this

Teacher and taxpayer, you are correct. The decision was made before they “put it before the public”. Teachers were told it would happen and nothing was going to change it. It was suggested they wait until all the buildings were air conditioned. It was also suggested they phase it in adding new buildings as they were built. Either one of those ideas would have made more sense! DPS student: you might like it, but you can not speak for all. I have not found very many of my students who like it. There is nothing for many of them to do in October or around Easter. At least in the summer they can go swimming.

By parent

August 7, 2007 12:54 AM | Link to this

When I saw how hot it was going to be today I decided my boys would not walk the mile to school in the heat. They say Children First get real. I put my boys first and kept them home and they will be out the rest of this week. Their health matters to me, if not to the school board. They could move their offices to the school room and see how they cope with the heat.

By Concerned Mom of 3

August 7, 2007 12:30 AM | Link to this

I know I am in the minority here, but my children attended a true year round school- and we loved it. The three week breaks were so much nicer than the two week breaks they get now. Also, I can remember a year when the kids made it through August without oppressive heat only to be blasted with a heat wave after the traditional calendar started. This heat wave will pass… I am glad the administration decided to call it off tomorrow. It was the right decision for well being of the teachers and students. Here’s to a bonus day of putt-putting and swimming!!! Stay cool.

By Will

August 7, 2007 12:27 AM | Link to this

DPS Student What you wrote takes precedence over every other voice on this blog. If students find it beneficial then it’s what should be done. Also rather than gripe about not having water, hold Mack and central office accountable for their A/C live. In fact DPS teachers should contact their DEA building reps and ask central office to turn off its A/C as a show of solidarity for the students who suffer in sweltering conditions for their education.

By A MOM

August 7, 2007 12:12 AM | Link to this

WELL,,, When I picked my son up from school today, he was never so happy too be in our airconditioned vehicle.He was soaking wet from head to toe, and his face was beet red. I had brought him a bottle of ice water and he drank it all, like he’d never had water before,Then he said mommy please can i please stay home until it snows outside cause it was really hot in school and it makes my brain hot!! So, what’s the problem start school in September like you know you should,and a lot of little brains won’t suffer or turn off all airconditioners in Mr. Macks buildings until you finish all dayton schools, and suffer right along with them…If it’s good enough for the kids then it’s good enough for the board!!!!!!!!!!

By Richard Marksberry

August 6, 2007 11:45 PM | Link to this

Well it is a lttle early to start school but if kids aren’t neeeded in the farm fields any more why shut the schools down? Wasn’t it hotter picking corn? Whooses!

By Scott Elliott

August 6, 2007 11:40 PM | Link to this

Folks, some of you are giving me way too much credit. I appreciate your kind words, but I really don’t think my presence in the schools today had any impact on the decision to close schools Tuesday.

By Wynne

August 6, 2007 11:13 PM | Link to this

What in the world is wrong with the school system anymore. Stating back to school in September has always been the better way to go. Why try and change things that has worked for years and years. Out of school in June for the summer and back to school in September.

By DPS Student

August 6, 2007 10:32 PM | Link to this

So far everyone seems to be saying that the year round schedule should be abolished…. but no one realizes how much the students love it! I am entering my senior year, and take advanced courses. Having a hard courseload along with sports and a job is stressful - and the extra October break gives me the time I need to replenish my energy. As for the heat, almost all the new schools should be finished before the beginning of next year, and there will be air conditioning. If we have to miss a week of school this year, so what? It won’t happen again, because we’ll have the new buildings.

By lou

August 6, 2007 9:34 PM | Link to this

Thank you Scott. They laugh at us downtown when we say it is hot. I guess they listened to you. Thank you.

By Camisha Maze

August 6, 2007 9:02 PM | Link to this

Plainly school should start after labor day! After I sat for an extra hour at my kids bus stop because the bus was over an hour late I was teed off!

By painfultruth

August 6, 2007 8:56 PM | Link to this

The Dayton Board of Education hasn’t been “forward thinking” in years. Why is anyone surprised. Might be hot in August? Golly, never thought of that! The brainless board that cannot account for 40 MILLION missing dollars can’t even guess temperatures in August might be too warm! AND, these are the people molding our next generation? LOOK OUT!!!

By Teacher and taxpayer

August 6, 2007 8:47 PM | Link to this

When the modified year- round concept was introduced to the public, there were a series of question and answer sessions held. While most attendees at the meeting my husband and I attended had many valid concerns about beginning school the first week of August,especially health concerns for the children, it was pretty evident that the decision had been made, regardless of the many contraindications. Had the district waited a few years until ALL buildings were air conditioned, these concerns would have been moot. Instead,as seems typical for this administration, the changes were instituted, regardless of the consequences for our students. I taught in one of the older buildings the first year of this calendar; we were unable to teach in the afternoons because it was just too hot. Fans only move hot air around and the small bottles of chilled water provided were not sufficient to prevent several teachers and students from becoming ill. The administration is aware that putting children in 100 degree classrooms is not healthy, yet nothing has been done to change the situation. Dr. Mack and his cabinet should come and work in these saunas for the day; perhaps then they would admit the mistake that has been made and revert to the traditional calendar. Heaven forbid this administration do anything that is truly beneficial to the children they proclaim to care about.

By HIH

August 6, 2007 8:42 PM | Link to this

“I remember” - way way WAY back when - our school “a one-room for all grades” began the first week of August and ended in April. When the weather was hot the building was HOT - NO A.C. When the weather was cold, the old pot bellied stove did a fair job of keeping us warm - at least the side of us that was closer to the stove. AH, for the “good ole days.”

By Parent of DPS student

August 6, 2007 8:40 PM | Link to this

It would be in the best interest of the students to return to school after Labor Day. It is much cooler. Isn’t it true that most of the buildings do not have air-conditioning??

By Scott Elliott

August 6, 2007 8:14 PM | Link to this

Just to explain the early start for Dayton, Monday began the third year for the district on a compromise “hybrid” calendar. Previously, about a quarter of the schools were on a year-round schedule, starting in late July and taking three-week fall and spring breaks. To achieve a single calendar, all schools switched to two-week breaks in fall and spring and moved to a start date in the first week of August.

By Scott Fowler

August 6, 2007 8:08 PM | Link to this

The heatwave was predicted as early as last Thursday.Why in the world would the school district waste everyone’s time by opening for one day and probably be closed the rest of the week?

By null

August 6, 2007 7:48 PM | Link to this

What ever happened to school being out the Friday before Memorial Day and didn’t start again till the day after Labor Day? That’s how it was when I went to school way back when.

By Anne

August 6, 2007 7:20 PM | Link to this

Scott, Thank you for today! There are a lot of children who are not going to have to suffer the rest of this week, now. I do not think it is a coincidence that Dr. Mack saw you in two buildings and decided to close the schools tomorrow. Thank you.

By east coaster

August 6, 2007 7:17 PM | Link to this

I grew up in the East where school started after Labor Day and still does. Since we still have schools that are not air-conditioned wouldn’t that make more sense. We ended in late June and started in beginning of Sept. Nothing gets accomplished sitting in hot buildings for the children or the teachers.

By Veronique Dell

August 6, 2007 6:55 PM | Link to this

I think if they are going to send students and teachers to school in early August, Then the buildings should be air conditioned. My kids go to a year round school which begins in July. Thank God they thought ahead and had the building equiped for air conditioning.

By urban_girl75

August 6, 2007 6:50 PM | Link to this

I think this is a wise move. It will keep our students and staff safe. My concern is that the heat could return in the next few weeks and then what happens? The district needs to re-examine the calendar. There are far too many breaks between the beginning of school and Christmas break. As nice as the October break is, it really isn’t necessary. We should begin mid to late August. The students are also missing out on some great summer programs the museums and the city offer.

By J

August 6, 2007 6:48 PM | Link to this

So maybe there is a really simple explanation for my following question: Why don’t the year-round schools in Dayton begin their school year at the beginning of September (instead of the beginning of August) and end at the end of June (instead of the end of May)? Would this not solve at least part of the heat issues we get EVERY year in early and mid-August?? June is, on average cooler than August, right??

By offinsummers

August 6, 2007 6:39 PM | Link to this

The cost of year round school is already being felt. Way to go! Another reason why NOT to go to school in early August.

By Lathe

August 6, 2007 6:38 PM | Link to this

Perhaps this says something about the insanity of returning to school on August 6.

By scott ward

August 6, 2007 6:36 PM | Link to this

maybe if schools actually started in the fall instead of the middle of summer they would not have these problems