Teacher worktime10/27/2022 ![]() ![]() “We’re in the discussion phase,” said Lori Hvizda Ward, board president. The earliest this piece could be implemented would be next school year, but board members stressed that they have made no decisions. The Wednesday board meeting focused solely on a one-hour late start across all schools one day per week to give teachers time they need to plan and collaborate without students. Staff and the board have talked about changing the bell time every day because national research shows that if secondary students start school later, their health and academic performance improves, according to information from the district. The idea of starting late one day per week is being considered to help teachers and is completely separate from another late-start option the district also has discussed. “(That) is my concern.”Ĭommunity members have been vocal about this issue through a district survey that is underway and in various public forums, though no one spoke on the issue at the Wednesday school board. “Do we want to present it to the community if we cannot afford it?” Swanty said. He said he would like to know the costs before deciding whether to pursue the option. However, this one late start per week will affect working parents by changing their schedule on that one day, and board members suggested looking further into ways the district could prevent disrupting families by perhaps offering in-school programs for the students or working with other groups such as the Boys & Girls Clubs of Larimer County.īoard members agreed that this issue needs further discussion, and Jeff Swanty pointed out that it could carry with it much higher costs. The cost was estimated at $60,000, primarily to pay for changes to the transportation schedule. To make up that one hour per week of instructional time, the district would add four days onto the school year. Teacher worktime professional#The top recommendation was to start school one hour late one day per week to give teachers time for planning, collaboration and professional development. “My suggestion would be to go forward with all six of these as soon as possible and get that known out there … that we are doing these things for our educators.” ![]() I want the Thompson School District to try and get ahead of the curve and ahead of other districts if we can. We are in a crisis, the state and the nation is really heading toward a teacher shortage. “That’s why I like the package deal the task force put together. ![]() “I think that these are really diverse solutions that target both the recruitment and retaining, and I don’t want to ignore one or the other,” said Pam Howard, board member. The committee report ranged from some no-cost options that can be implemented immediately, such up upping recognition, to a possible tuition reimbursement program that could cost the district $125,000. With a budget that does not even meet existing building, curriculum and staff needs as well as anticipated growth, the district has been looking for creative solutions to keeping and recruiting teachers. A committee of teachers and administrators put together a list of six recommendations on ways to recruit and retain teachers within the district, which last year had a 20 percent overall turnover rate and pays an average of 14 percent less than surrounding districts. ![]()
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