Questions raised as new school calendar considered

WORLAND — It was almost back to the drawing board for the 2023-24 school calendar with Business Manager Charlie Cauffman and Superintendent Tawn Argeris discussing three options for Washakie County School District No. 1 Board of Trustees to consider.

Argeris said that a survey of staff, students and parents show about 75% were in favor of Calendar A which has the earliest start date of Aug. 17, but has Christmas break starting the earliest on Dec. 18.

Both A and B calendars have the first semester ending before Christmas break.

Board member Sarah Lungren asked if the teachers had an opportunity to put forth a calendar for consideration and Cauffman said they did not. Lungren noted it was something the board discussed last year.

Worland High School Activities Director Aaron Abel reported that during an administration meeting earlier Monday, they discussed the fact that there is value in moving the professional development days from the end of the year to during the school year.

He said there is also value in allowing time in the school year for multiple buildings to meet for development, something that the calendar does not allow for at this time.

Worland Middle School Principal Ryan Clark added that parents do not like half-day professional development days and a full day once every quarter would be more beneficial than four days at the end of the year.

Argeris said the A schedule has the best Christmas break schedule because the break starts after Friday, Dec. 15. He said having a break start in the middle of a week is “tough for teachers” because grades are usually turned in and kids are antsy for the break.

Board Chair David Tommerup said he would like to see a calendar generated by the teaching staff.

Board member Jonathan Hake added he would like to see a calendar that would only need to have minimum modifications each year.

Last year the school year started after Labor Day and this year the district returned to a mid August start.

“It should not be a big process every year,” Hake said.

Cauffman said the district could look at an alternative schedule calendar that considers total hours of teacher-student classroom time rather than student-teacher days.

He said the minimum hours at the high school are 1,000 hours, 950 hours at the middle school and 900 at the elementary. All Worland schools currently exceed the state minimum hour requirements.

Argeris said he would have the administrators take Calendar A, since it has the most support and provide suggestions for improving the calendar and Argeris will bring back a recommendation to the December board meeting.

The board meeting, originally set for Dec. 12 was moved to Tuesday, Dec. 13 due to scheduling conflict with a school Christmas concert.