OUSD gives OK to calendar change
by Kelly Feser Eells

At its March 19 meeting, Ojai Unified School District board members voted unanimously to approve the modified 2002-03 instructional calendars presented at a special meeting held Feb. 19.
The approved calendars, one for kindergarten through eighth grade and another for grades nine through 12, have K-8 students starting school on Aug. 26 - two days, rather than the originally proposed nine days, earlier than high school students. The lower grades, however, still receive an additional week's vacation at Spring Break under the modified calendar, and end the school year two days later than the upper grades, on June 20.
Joe Evans, who has children attending both Meiners Oaks Elementary School and Nordhoff High School, noted that, while he appreciated the fact that the board was willing to work with the teacher's union on reaching a compromise, "I was kind of dismayed to see this back on tonight's agenda."
Referring to Supt. Van Riley's letter of Mar. 7, which included the modified calendars and noticed the district's intention to submit them for the board's approval, he added, "Soliciting input about this calendar was truly a step in the right direction. But, for it to be submitted at the very first meeting (noticed in the letter), and for the board to ratify it, shows that there is still a problem with communication within the district.
Again, I know there has to be a compromise. But please don't split my kids' calendar up. Why don't you have the high school step up to bat for one year?"
Board vice-president Tim Peddicord said, "I understand your concerns. However, this is a negotiable item. And I think this is the best we're going to get here."
Member Bob Unruhe agreed. "I think this is a compromise we can live with; at least we're all starting and ending the same week."
"I think what we have here," said board president Kathi Smith, "is a classic compromise." That, she smiled, is "when nobody's happy." Echoing Peddicord's sentiments, she said, "I do think that they're the least split as they can be. I'm sure the teachers who adopted that first calendar aren't thrilled, but neither are the parents who want a traditional calendar."
Concluding that, while "I definitely hear what you're saying, Mr. Evans, it's my firm belief that the only reason I'd vote for this calendar is that the committee we set up will be charged to craft a calendar from scratch. And they will not be under any kind of institutional pressure to work from this school year calendar. Also, I think the clear message to the teachers' union was that the community wants a common calendar."
Matilija PTA member Susan Malkin expressed concern about the financial aspects of operating under two calendars. "With such a budget crisis as we seem to be in, I wonder: has there been a cost valuation done with this? Taking additional food costs, buses running at half capacity into account? Plus, are we (the district) going to get paid for the kids who don't show up to these intervention classes?"
"It seems about a break even situation," said Riley, explaining that buses run a route whether full, at half or nearly empty capacity. He further pointed out that, while the intervention classes were voluntary, and the district, therefore, would not be paid for students who do not attend, transportation was up to the parents. "Just like summer school."
The board, following its unanimous approval of the modified calendars, discussed the formation of a community advisory committee for future calendars. It was agreed that there will be one site council representative and one PTA member from each school - including Chaparral - and two community members appointed by the board. No formal action will be taken until the next meeting, scheduled for April 2.
Evans conceded that, while he was encouraged by the board's decision to survey parents and the community to determine what, exactly, the committee should be looking at, his overall response was one of disappointment. "I understand that the board had to reach a compromise with the teachers' union in reference to this contract. But the problem is, and has been from the very beginning, that the district has not apprised the public about why this change was occurring, and that's what the public outcry's all about. There's clearly a problem with communication, even though the board was clear in their direction that this issue would be worked out at the committee level, for both the betterment of our community and the district. I truly hope the district sticks to what the board's directing them to do." He added, considering "the way everything's been handled, not just here but statewide," he understood why there was an increasing outcry for school vouchers.

© 2002 The Ojai Valley News

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