More days off could be coming to a school near you

Posted Aug 30, 2010 by Sherri Ackerman

Updated Aug 30, 2010 at 01:28 PM

Parents could find their children with extra days off the week of Thanksgiving this year and another free day in March to give students and teachers a four-day weekend to offset the late spring break in April.

As I reported earlier, the Hillsborough Classroom Teachers Association ratified a proposed contract with the district paving the way for the above school calendar changes that also include 14 early-release days that have kids leaving class two hours earlier so teachers can have more planning time.

Sounds good, but the move also has some parents leaving work earlier and possibly having to use precious vacation time to do it.

Schools superintendent MaryEllen Elia announced at the last school board meeting that the district would offer such parents afterschool care for $5, but some parents say it isn’t the inconvenience.

They want their kids in school five days a week.

I spoke with Russell Blumenthal this morning. He and his wife helped start the Facebook group, Parents Against Half-Days At Hillsborough County Schools. Check out our previous coverage.

The union’s approval means the proposed teacher contract goes before school board members Tuesday. Voting against the days off means voting down the entire contract, which took months to negotiate and includes small raises and bonuses for eligible teachers - who haven’t had raises in several years.

Russell said he expected the issue to take this route, but his group isn’t resigned to accepting early-release days. Parents Against Half-Days supporters still plan to attend the board meeting that starts at 3 p.m. at 901 E. Kennedy Blvd., Tampa.

There are other compromises, Russell said, but school board members and the district have to be willing to listen.