News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
Spring break will be one week next year, under a calendar adopted by the Sisters School Board last week.
The school calendar in Sisters has traditionally been designed to accommodate several community objectives: a post-Labor Day start; a two-week spring break; and dismissal in the second weekend in June.
When Labor Day falls late as it does this year (September 7) it throws a monkey wrench into the works.
"When Labor Day is a late date in September, it is impossible - it's numerically impossible - to do all of those things," Superintendent Elaine Drakulich told the school board at its Wednesday, April 8, meeting.
Drakulich said there was no real academic difference in an earlier or later start or a two-week break and surveys of the community revealed a dead-even split over the value of a late start versus a two-week break.
Board chair Christine Jones noted that district policy prefers a post-Labor Day start and board members agreed that with the economy in shambles there is likely to be less need for family vacation time next spring.
Board member Mike Gould pointed out that the district may yet see a two-week break - due to a potential need to cut school days to meet a budget shortfall (see related story, page 1).
"I think we can have our cake and eat it, too," Gould said. "I think there is a very high likelihood that we can adopt Calendar 2 (post-Labor Day start; one-week break) and we will have a two-week spring break."
The comment drew rueful laughter from the board and audience at the meeting.
"I am categorically opposed to that in principle," Jones said. "But I take your point."
The board passed the calendar with a 4-1 vote, with Jeff Smith opposed. He indicated that he wasn't sure the calendar would be the most effective one in keeping the largest number of students in class while school is in session.
Jim Cornelius is editor in chief of The Nugget and author of “Warriors of the Wildlands: True Tales of the Frontier Partisans.” A history buff, he explores frontier history across three centuries and several continents on his podcast, The Frontier Partisans. For more information visit www.frontierpartisans.com.
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