Next Year's School Calendar in the Works

Discussion of the 2010-2011 school calendar began at last week's Scotch Plains-Fanwood Board of Education meeting, sparking suggestions from parents and board members alike.

Some neighboring districts, like Westfield, have been able to fit in a week off in February, something Scotch Plains-Fanwood parents have been lobbying for in recent years. However, Superintendent Margaret Hayes said she didn't think it was possible because of professional development days.

"Calendars never make everyone happy," Hayes said.

The current draft of the calendar has school opening on Tuesday, Sept. 7. Winter break has been slated for Dec. 24 to 31, and spring break is tentatively from April 4 to 8.

To view the full draft of the 2010-2011 calendar, go here.

Board President Trip Whitehouse said that the board is also looking into the possibility of planning the calendar for the next two years, through 2012, to make it easier for parents to plan. The only setback seems to be the state Department of Education's designation of testing days, which vary from year to year.

Whitehouse said he hopes for the board to vote on the calendar at its Jan. 28 meeting.

In other news, the district is also moving forward with looking into possibly eliminating several school crossing guards at midday.

The idea was first proposed at a Scotch Plains Council meeting in October, when Sgt. Ernie Hernandez of the Scotch Plains Police Department outlined a proposed plan for the lunch time cuts. Currently there are 11 crossing guards that work the one-hour lunch shift, making between $17 and $19.50 an hour.

"The impact to the schools is minimal because there really isn't anyone that walks home," Hernandez said at the time. "If they do walk, it's with their parents."

At the Board of Education meeting last week, Hayes estimated that eliminating the posts could save the district up to $40,000.

"We're all facing the need to do more with less," she said.

Posts at Evergreen Avenue and Cedar Street, Westfield Avenue and Westfield Road, and Evergreen Avenue and Westfield Road, among others, are subject to assessment.

Board member Rob O'Connor was concerned with traffic safety for some students who might be taking those routes mid day. Hayes responded that the council is looking into increasing police patrol in the areas where crossing guards have been eliminated.