HMS/CHMS Will Implement a Split Schedule Starting Thursday, January 23

The Board of Education voted 6 to 1 to approve "Option 1" and implement a split schedule that will allow HMS students to return to learning on Thursday, January 23.  Tomorrow the teachers will report and participate in a planning day.  On Thursday CHMS students will attend school from 7 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. and HMS students will attend school from 12 p.m. until 4:30 p.m.  Logistical details will be emailed to parents tomorrow.

At a future meeting, the BOE will decide whether to waive the two days all D181 students missed due to the polar vortex and waive another two days that HMS students missed. According to Kevin Russell, the Assistant Superintendent of Learning, the current calendar had more instructional days built in than are required, so the weather absences can be waived (if the Board so chooses) and the school code also allows up to 2 days of required instruction to be waived if a school is closed due to an emergency.

With HMS students returning to school on Thursday, they will have missed a total of 5 days.  If four of the days are waived, they will only have to make up one day. It will be up to the Board to decide if the missed instructional days should be made up. Had the BOE approved Option 2, which was Dr. Schuster's recommendation, HMS students would have missed a minimum of 7 days.

During the discussion, Board Member Vorobiev asked Dr. Schuster to clarify exactly what Option 2 meant.  Under Option 2 a split schedule would begin next Monday only if it was determined that HMS could not reopen next Wednesday.  If HMS could reopen next Wednesday, then students would not attend school at all until then.  Board Member Heneghan pointed out that in light of this new explanation by Dr. Schuster, Option 2 was really the same as Option 3.  The only difference would be if the remediation work went beyond next Wednesday, in which case a split schedule would be implemented.

In light of the knowledge that HMS students might not return to school at all before next Wednesday, the Board voted to implement Option 1.  Board Member Nelson (who called in by phone -- again) initially expressed disapproval of a split schedule, but ultimately voted yes.  President Turek (who called in by phone) voted no.  Both expressed concern that half days would not provide a high quality educational experience and it would be better to add full days to make up for the missed days.

Vice President Vorobiev ran the meeting because of Mr. Turek's physical absence and before the Board