Bonfadini has good ideas about school calendar

Mike Bonfadini makes some excellent points in his April 8 letter on the school calendar (“Is the School Board really listening?”). 

“Banked time” is one thing Culpeper County should use to the fullest. If this were done there would be no need to shorten spring vacation or extend the school year to make up snow days. 

Many parents plan travel experiences for their children during spring vacation and need to know what they can count on. Travel is one of the most enriching things we can give our children. 
Who would argue that sitting in a classroom making up snow days is more important than a trip to Williamsburg, for example?

There are eight professional work days in the calendar. If push comes to shove, some of those workdays should be designated “at- home work days” so those days could be used for makeup days.  If banked time is fully utilized this should rarely be necessary.  Teachers put in far more than eight days anyway.

Also, the work days need to be unencumbered days.

Too often teachers are burdened with sessions on the latest education school fads on work days. They get enough of this in the recertification courses they are required to take. Work days should be for getting ready for school in the fall and getting grades done during the school year. On work days, administrative concerns should be expedited and teachers allowed to get on with their work. 

Thomas Earles
Culpeper