By Jarret Liotta
Though it had some misgivings about choosing different days, the Board of Education (BOE) Monday night decided to adopt a revised 2020-21 school calendar per recommendations of the teacher’s union.
Last month it came to light that the approved school calendar for next year was three days short, listing only 179 days for students instead of 182. There were also only 185 days marked for teachers, though the contract requires 188 working days.
The Wednesday before Thanksgiving, which had traditionally always been a half-day for students but during the abbreviated tenure of the last superintendent of schools had been changed to a holiday, was returned to a half day.
April 19, the Monday after April break, which students had off but teachers did not, will now be a school day, as will June 17, extending the school year an extra day for students.
“It has historically been a bit of a wasted day,” BOE member Elaine Whitney said of the day before Thanksgiving, drawing agreement from some other board members.
John Horrigan, Westport Education Association co-president, disagreed.
“I don’t think that day was ever a wasted day,” he said, noting that “teachers would be very offended” to hear that assessment.
Whitney and others backpedaled on the point, however, stating they meant because it was a half-day before the holiday, many students take the day off.
Horrigan, however, said that now with the Wednesday off, many students take off Monday and Tuesday as well, to have the whole week as a vacation.
With the loss of April 19 as a teacher work day, teachers will now have their last day on Friday, June 18, 2021.
Anthony Buono, assistant superintendent for teaching and learning, said he did not like having a teacher’s day at the end of the year, as he indicated they wouldn’t be working on curriculum but instead packing up.
He said teacher’s professional days should be spread throughout the school year.
Horrigan pointed out that by contract the extra days were technically work days and that the time would be well spent.
