Please join us to let the Stafford County School Board know you would like to keep the start day of school AFTER Labor Day.
BACKGROUND:
According to the person who conducted Stafford County Schools Energy Audit, starting school early would result in a "significant" increase in energy costs. We have just learned we have a $19 million budget shortage. We are looking at not buying new textbooks/computers, programs going away, not replacing buses that have reached the end of their life cycle, and personnel reductions just to name a few things. But some school board members feel we have the money to waste on something like this. Additionally, the bus drivers feel it would be too hot for the children as our school buses have no air-conditioning and some children ride the bus up to an hour each way.
Central Office staff has repeatedly tried to get the school board to change the start date, despite consistent overwhelming opposition by the public. Staff has said we should do this "to improve test scores by allowing more time before high stakes tests". When asked by the school board to provide documentation supporting their claim, they admitted they could not. If staff truly feels extra days are important, they could cut some of the 15 half days we have. So far, they haven't.
Staff will soon be bringing another pre-Labor Day early start calendar to the school board for approval. So far, the following school board members have expressed their support to start early, some as much as three weeks:
Ms. Phillips - Hartwood District
Ms. Bohmke - Falmouth District (Vice Chair)
Ms. Johnson - Aquia District (Chair)
https://www.petitionhosting.com/petitions/staffordschoolspostlabordaystartKeep post Labor Day Start for Stafford County Schools2012-02-18T21:18:13Zhttp://www.petitionhosting.com/images/header.jpghttps://www.petitionhosting.com/petitions/staffordschoolspostlabordaystartKeep post Labor Day Start for Stafford County SchoolsPlease join us to let the Stafford County School Board know you would like to keep the start day of school AFTER Labor Day.
BACKGROUND:
According to the person who conducted Stafford County Schools Energy Audit, starting school early would result in a "significant" increase in energy costs. We have just learned we have a $19 million budget shortage. We are looking at not buying new textbooks/computers, programs going away, not replacing buses that have reached the end of their life cycle, and personnel reductions just to name a few things. But some school board members feel we have the money to waste on something like this. Additionally, the bus drivers feel it would be too hot for the children as our school buses have no air-conditioning and some children ride the bus up to an hour each way.
Central Office staff has repeatedly tried to get the school board to change the start date, despite consistent overwhelming opposition by the public. Staff has said we should do this "to improve test scores by allowing more time before high stakes tests". When asked by the school board to provide documentation supporting their claim, they admitted they could not. If staff truly feels extra days are important, they could cut some of the 15 half days we have. So far, they haven't.
Staff will soon be bringing another pre-Labor Day early start calendar to the school board for approval. So far, the following school board members have expressed their support to start early, some as much as three weeks:
Ms. Phillips - Hartwood District
Ms. Bohmke - Falmouth District (Vice Chair)
Ms. Johnson - Aquia District (Chair)
I see no point in starting school before Labor Day. It will costs the schools much money to run, the kids won't want to be in there. As for vacation, my family can't afford to go to the beach in July. We don't like going in July. Who wants to get out in May? Not me. https://www.petitionhosting.com/petitions/staffordschoolspostlabordaystartGwen Sorrell2017-05-08T11:50:27Zhttps://www.petitionhosting.com/petitions/staffordschoolspostlabordaystartDawn White2012-03-09T08:34:33Zhttps://www.petitionhosting.com/petitions/staffordschoolspostlabordaystartDenis Roshioru2012-03-08T22:50:12Zhttps://www.petitionhosting.com/petitions/staffordschoolspostlabordaystartMichele Roshioru2012-03-08T22:49:19Zhttps://www.petitionhosting.com/petitions/staffordschoolspostlabordaystartHeather Stefl2012-03-08T20:17:56Zhttps://www.petitionhosting.com/petitions/staffordschoolspostlabordaystartStephen Crisp2012-03-06T17:28:17Zhttps://www.petitionhosting.com/petitions/staffordschoolspostlabordaystartLena Crisp2012-03-06T17:27:58ZThey want to start earlier. Why? Also, what is the point of starting early? This only means, that the kids get out earlier in the year so, what's the point? Want more days? Cut half days and shorten holiday vacations! https://www.petitionhosting.com/petitions/staffordschoolspostlabordaystartShirlene Upton2012-03-01T08:34:52Zhttps://www.petitionhosting.com/petitions/staffordschoolspostlabordaystartRemy Kelish2012-02-29T19:57:13Zhttps://www.petitionhosting.com/petitions/staffordschoolspostlabordaystartSandra Kelish2012-02-29T19:55:55Zhttps://www.petitionhosting.com/petitions/staffordschoolspostlabordaystartAnnette Gentles2012-02-27T18:28:47Zhttps://www.petitionhosting.com/petitions/staffordschoolspostlabordaystartJohn Babec2012-02-24T17:26:14Zhttps://www.petitionhosting.com/petitions/staffordschoolspostlabordaystartWendy Babec2012-02-24T17:25:53Zhttps://www.petitionhosting.com/petitions/staffordschoolspostlabordaystartKristine Bealmear2012-02-24T10:42:32Zhttps://www.petitionhosting.com/petitions/staffordschoolspostlabordaystartYvonne Barber2012-02-24T07:19:28Zhttps://www.petitionhosting.com/petitions/staffordschoolspostlabordaystartChristine Franklin2012-02-23T17:26:13Zhttps://www.petitionhosting.com/petitions/staffordschoolspostlabordaystartAshley Krawczyk2012-02-23T16:13:36Zhttps://www.petitionhosting.com/petitions/staffordschoolspostlabordaystartJoe Harrison2012-02-22T12:25:49Zhttps://www.petitionhosting.com/petitions/staffordschoolspostlabordaystartheidi harrison2012-02-22T12:25:34Zhttps://www.petitionhosting.com/petitions/staffordschoolspostlabordaystartJoe Brito2012-02-22T10:15:30Z I agree with Mariah Strickland's commentshttps://www.petitionhosting.com/petitions/staffordschoolspostlabordaystartAngelo Michael Carlone2012-02-22T09:15:39Zhttps://www.petitionhosting.com/petitions/staffordschoolspostlabordaystartRuth Carlone2012-02-22T09:12:48ZUnless the extra time was used to give every child an IEP I am against extending the school year. We use the summer to apply what we have learned and would rather my kids experience those lessons rather than study for a mandated cookie cutter test.https://www.petitionhosting.com/petitions/staffordschoolspostlabordaystartErin visser2012-02-22T06:42:25Zhttps://www.petitionhosting.com/petitions/staffordschoolspostlabordaystartKristina Ballard2012-02-22T05:44:04Zhttps://www.petitionhosting.com/petitions/staffordschoolspostlabordaystartRobert P (Bob) Hunt2012-02-21T20:47:28Zhttps://www.petitionhosting.com/petitions/staffordschoolspostlabordaystartMartha Heins2012-02-21T18:56:46ZNO! This is ridiculous! Don't cut summer and DON'T cut half days! Teach smarter! Quit focusing our kids on passing tests to meet a "STANDARD" and let them LEARN to remember not to cram for a test!!https://www.petitionhosting.com/petitions/staffordschoolspostlabordaystartMariah Strickland2012-02-21T16:31:39Zhttps://www.petitionhosting.com/petitions/staffordschoolspostlabordaystartLisa Gregory2012-02-21T11:57:30ZSOL's are given during the school year at the High School level. Snow make up days don't benefit the fall semester kids. SOL's at Elementary level are already given in June so the test dates have already been adjusted to the Labor day start. https://www.petitionhosting.com/petitions/staffordschoolspostlabordaystartKathleen Cox2012-02-21T11:40:35Zhttps://www.petitionhosting.com/petitions/staffordschoolspostlabordaystartAlfred Gregory2012-02-21T11:39:00ZSeriously??? Spend all of that extra money on increased energy costs? Eliminating all of the ridiculous half-days would be a better option than forcing our kids back to school in the middle of the summer.https://www.petitionhosting.com/petitions/staffordschoolspostlabordaystartLauren T. Bass2012-02-21T11:18:03Zhttps://www.petitionhosting.com/petitions/staffordschoolspostlabordaystartAnjanette Miller2012-02-21T10:47:32Zhttps://www.petitionhosting.com/petitions/staffordschoolspostlabordaystartAnne Baumgartel2012-02-21T09:17:44Zhttps://www.petitionhosting.com/petitions/staffordschoolspostlabordaystartTracey Powers2012-02-21T09:02:48Zhttps://www.petitionhosting.com/petitions/staffordschoolspostlabordaystartRobert Fearing2012-02-21T08:54:48Zhttps://www.petitionhosting.com/petitions/staffordschoolspostlabordaystartMargaret Fearing2012-02-21T08:53:25ZThere is no evidence to support the claim that this does anything to benefit the kids.https://www.petitionhosting.com/petitions/staffordschoolspostlabordaystartAnne Jacobsen2012-02-21T08:34:08Zhttps://www.petitionhosting.com/petitions/staffordschoolspostlabordaystartChristina Perry2012-02-21T07:18:03Zhttps://www.petitionhosting.com/petitions/staffordschoolspostlabordaystartKathleen Grilli2012-02-21T06:53:30ZMid-August start date? What Board Member is taking my kid back to college while I'm at the bus stop w/ my younger kids? Ah, another brilliant idea by the School Board. https://www.petitionhosting.com/petitions/staffordschoolspostlabordaystartAlan Morgan2012-02-21T05:34:17ZWhy is Fairfax County so successful with test scores and they start after Labor Day? Time to look inside our educational system for answers, folks. Board Members who vote yes, you get to ride the bus in the sweltering heat w. the kids if this passes! https://www.petitionhosting.com/petitions/staffordschoolspostlabordaystartKathy Morgan2012-02-21T05:30:53Zhttps://www.petitionhosting.com/petitions/staffordschoolspostlabordaystartKelly Upton2012-02-20T22:10:00ZAre the schools so focused on improving test scores that they have forgotten about child development as a whole? Summers are so valuable for the development of life skills - independence, employment, etc. Family time is important too for our kids!https://www.petitionhosting.com/petitions/staffordschoolspostlabordaystartPamela de Toledo2012-02-20T21:14:38Zunsupported claimshttps://www.petitionhosting.com/petitions/staffordschoolspostlabordaystartBeth A Mann2012-02-20T21:00:09Zhttps://www.petitionhosting.com/petitions/staffordschoolspostlabordaystartcarmen fierro2012-02-20T20:58:58Zhttps://www.petitionhosting.com/petitions/staffordschoolspostlabordaystartjade bolinh2012-02-20T20:58:31Zhttps://www.petitionhosting.com/petitions/staffordschoolspostlabordaystartDebby Martinich2012-02-20T20:44:42ZI have yet to see that adding extra days to the school calendar significantly improves student learning and the County school budget. https://www.petitionhosting.com/petitions/staffordschoolspostlabordaystartMarla Mooney2012-02-20T20:19:30Zhttps://www.petitionhosting.com/petitions/staffordschoolspostlabordaystartThomas Johns2012-02-20T19:57:51ZPLEASE let us have our family summer... discounted rates in late August are the only way SO MANY families can afford a vacation! Thanks for the petition!https://www.petitionhosting.com/petitions/staffordschoolspostlabordaystartJennifer Johns2012-02-20T19:57:22Z