Proposed School Calendar Doubles Early Release Days

If it seems like there are a lot of early release days, wait until next school year when your child may get out of school early on twice as many days.

The number of two-hour early release days, which provide teachers with training time, may increase from 10 to 20. Two months would have three early release days.

"We've got a number of new early release days that we are suggesting because we are going to a different scheduling process with high schools next year," Deputy Superintendent Rodney Hollinger said Monday. This will offset some of the reduction in planning time.

After developing a few proposed calendars for the 2009-10 school year, Hollinger said, only one remains as the best option, which is being recommended to the school board.

The school board is scheduled to vote today on the calendar proposal.

Hollinger said the Highlands County School District is planning on implementing a seven-period schedule in the high schools.

At a December budget workshop, the school board discussed a schedule change, which would cut 17 high school and 12 middle school positions resulting in a savings of $1.67 million.

Under the current high school schedule, a teacher's planning period occurs during one of the seven class periods.

The new schedule calls for a 45-minute planning period for all teachers prior to the first class period. Teachers would then be available to teach in all seven class periods.

"The more we can save up front then the less we've got to cut when it gets down to the last minute as far as the budget and salaries are concerned," Hollinger said.

The School Board of Highlands County will hold a budget workshop at 3:30 p.m., today.

A regular school board meeting is scheduled at 5:30 p.m., today.

The school board meets in the Garland Boggus Board Room, 426 School St., Sebring.