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Dayton Daily News education reporter Scott Elliott writes about schools, kids, teaching and learning.
Home > Blogs > Get on the Bus > Archives > 2007 > August > 12 > Entry
Isaacs: Heat won’t change calendar
(Marshall High School students walk the steamy halls on the first day of school last week.)
In today’s paper, school board President Yvonne Isaacs says a freak heat wave that closed school this week has not caused the district to rethink the early August start for its calendar.
By my count, four Dayton schools have air conditioning right now — Belle Haven, Wogaman, Cleveland and Kiser elementary schools, the four new schools that opened last year. Four new schools will open this year and by the end of next school year close to half of the new schools will be open.
Essentially, Isaacs said the district just has to hang in there until the new, air conditioned buildings are open and then summer heat no longer will be a problem. She said the board still believes in the educational benefits of a longer school year. And she points out that the district for more than a decade had schools that opened in July and only rarely had to close schools or dismiss early because of hot weather.
One other thing, school officials said they might have just dismissed schools early this year rather than close if they had that option. But they say the district’s busing system so complex now with 30 district schools, 30 charter schools, RTA routes and a handful of private schools that closing early no longer is an option.
(Image credit: Jan Underwood, DDN)
Permalink | Comments (16) | Categories: Dayton Public Schools
Comments
By Laura
August 17, 2007 9:38 PM | Link to this
I have to correct my statement about the non-statistical edge. The slight edge goes to traditional school- not year-round as I wrote.By charterschoolhater
August 14, 2007 5:09 PM | Link to this
Mr. Kennedy, you are absolutely right. The management and the board of ed have no regard for the wishes and concerns of the parents of the students. They only care about getting their way and taking of their political allies at the expense of the public at large.By Dan Kennedy
August 13, 2007 11:44 PM | Link to this
Isn’t the year long school plan a nightmare for parents who must constantly arrange short term child care while they are at work? I can’t imagine year long schooling could be very pleasant for them.By lou
August 13, 2007 3:42 PM | Link to this
Barb, they did open and air out Meadowdale HS. Thanks goes out to our custodian for coming in at 3:00am to open the windows. It did stay cool in my because I get no sun, but some of the rooms I went into had to be 110 degress. We also have several rooms in the middle of the building with no windows and the a/c does not work. But they did manage to fix the office a/c, just not the rooms with students in them.By HDT
August 13, 2007 12:30 AM | Link to this
Scott: I hope you will correct the record: the school year is not longer! The Dayton Calendar has the same number of days as other calendars in Ohio. It is important for the public to know the facts. Other districts in the area face the same misperception. Sometimes, the test scores of so-called year-round schools are the worst.By Anne
August 12, 2007 11:18 PM | Link to this
Barb, come on - you have to be as sure as I am that the TWO Ludlow buildings are going to have the A/C set above 80 degrees! They are really concerned about this financial crisis. They would never think of spending extra money to keep themselves cool while they state that the children just have to make it a few more years in this heat. It’s “Kids First”, remember? They have probably shut OFF the A/C at Both palaces. They are, I am sure, using the money to hire back some teachers to reduce the class sizes so these children can get the attention they deserve.By Barb
August 12, 2007 7:08 PM | Link to this
Did the schools get opened today and aired out as Ms. Issacs said or did she make a mistake on what was going to happen? Maybe questioning the BoE on the blogs is making things a little too HOT downtown. I hope more and more people begin to realize how important their opinion is and this is the medium that the Board has to be careful of because it reaches so many people. I do hope the Health Dept gets into buildings early tomorrow and checks the temp on all floors. Perhaps our Mayor will be concerned about the children and make sure this happens. Maybe they could check the temp at Ludlow also.By Scott Elliott
August 12, 2007 6:58 PM | Link to this
Regarding year round schools, there is no conclusive answer in the research. Several studies show it can increase test scores. Others have shown it has no measurable impact. This is the subject of an ongoing debate between proponents of year-round schools and critics of the idea. And while in most cases year-round calendars do not add more instruction days, propnents believe they diminish “backsliding” because there are shorter stretches away from the classroom, especially over the summer.By Scott Elliott
August 12, 2007 6:54 PM | Link to this
No, Marshall High School is the new name for Colonel White High School. They move into the new, air conditioned building in October.By Laura
August 12, 2007 6:34 PM | Link to this
Ms. Isaacs says the board “believes in the educational benefits” of the year longer school year. However, the school year isn’t longer! It is the same number of days, just distributed differently. Does she actually not know this? OK, I’ll give her the benefit of the doubt and assume she simply “misspoke”. What, other than just their “belief”, indicates that it has any educational benefit? Studies do not support that claim. Actually, the small, non-statistical edge leans toward the year-round schedule. So, other than the fact that someone on the board simply likes the year-round schedule, why are they so adamant about continuing it when so many parents and teachers have clearly stated they do not like it?By Laura
August 12, 2007 6:16 PM | Link to this
I think there are a few more schools with a/c. I know McNary does. Probably another one or two.By Retired
August 12, 2007 5:55 PM | Link to this
Is the heat really the issue or is the concept of year round school the real reason for the complaints? Scott, can you please provide provide information from any where in the United States that shows that the year round concept really improves the quality of education and that it has caused an increase in test scores? I don’t believe that anyone should be subject to intense heat in the buildings. If all buildings had air conditioning no problem, but yet from what I have been reading the vast majority of Dayton parents are against the year round concept. If parents really feel this way they should petition to put this to a vote during general elections. From my knowledge the parents were never given the opportunity to vote on this concept. I am also reading where year round schools are already in place that many are asking to go back to the traditional calendar. Just food for thought. I and others would be interested in finding out what research you can come up with.By chaterschoolhater
August 12, 2007 2:18 PM | Link to this
The attitude exhibited by Ms Isaacs just further proved that she and the rest of the board are only interested in their vision for the schools. They do not have the least concern about what the taxpayers and the parents of the students they have subjected to the heat have to say. If they did, they would convene a meeting for people to come and tell them if a change is needed. The board of ed needs new blood. You would think that Yvonne would have taken notice when one of her fellow Kids First Team(Just a name, has little relationship to the real truth)was defeated for re-election. Yvonne you are just as bad as Gail. She is the queen, you are the princess. It is time for you and Gail to be voted off the board, and replaced by people who care to go about the people’s bidding.By dirk sniggler
August 12, 2007 1:49 PM | Link to this
The new Thurgood Marshall High School has no air conditioning? If that’s the case, what a boneheaded blunder.By null
August 12, 2007 1:21 PM | Link to this
The Board is going to do what they want to do. They say this calander provides breaks for intersession intervention. Get real, they have only offered intervention for the October break, and traditional summer school. Those interventions have been limited to third graders this year, and second and third the year before, a very small percent of the population. Dayton Public Schools administration, and Board lies so much, it is crazy. I look forward to the ice and water being delivered to my students tomorrow, because this teacher isn’t buying it again. Scott, when I don’t get it tomorrow, can I call you?By sweltering
August 12, 2007 11:10 AM | Link to this
Yes, let’s just stay the course. Is there any research that shows year round schools increase achievement?