Conference 7.286::maynard

    I have just received a call from Dr. Kennedy, the superintendent. 
    While I do not agree with everything he said, I now have a better
    understanding of his point of view.  I prefer not to go into them here
    "publically" but will be glad to discuss my conversation with anyone
    via phone (DTN 223-5795).

What's going on:  Primarily the safety of our children.

Who's in charge: The Superintendent, the Police Chief, and the
                 head of the DPW.


I have no knowledge on how or why they predict to close schools.   Frankly
speaking, weather forecasting is a bit better than it was just a few
years ago -- loads better than a decade or so.  I think it is unfair to
use the "you can't predict the weather" aphorism anymore -- it doesn't
hold up to scrutiny.


School was cancelled 1/10 due to safety concerns.  Intersections and
sidewalks were not ready for the kids.   There was also a pedestrian
accident on Rt. 27 which also added to the concern.

You complain that they give too much warning based on weather forecasts
then get upset when they cancel on the morning?  I think the early closing
announcements are an attempt to allow people to plan so they can avoid
last minute schedule changes.  In the end though, last minute decisions
do have to be made.


You took the time to call -- that's good.   You should hear the phone ring
when they DON'T cancel school before the roads & sidewalks are ready!!

 
Do you have a perfect formula for doing this?   Please inform the town,
I'm sure they'd love to hear it.   Decisions like this are just plain
tough...   Are you willing to stand up and say that opening the schools
was the right thing after some little 7 year old gets hit by a car because
the child was invisible due to snow-bank height or poor intersection
conditions?



- dave

    Dave - I agree with you completely - Safety first
    
    It just has seemed to me that the decision process this year could be
    better.  As I said I had a long talk with Dr. Kennedy and we discussed
    many alternatives, both for this year and for future years.
    
    One suggestion that I made (I believe that I actually heard it on the
    news) was for Maynard, along with other towns, to get together and
    petition "the state" to allow them for this year to count "hours"
    instead of "days".  The 180 days would be converted to hours and this
    would be how long students would have to attend school.  This would be
    based on the fact that the winter has been very severe this year and it
    has only started.  Then, if this were allowed, the school should tack
    on (1 hour/1 period) at the end of the day. This way, they would slowly
    make up the snow days.  In my mind this would be far better than school
    going on into July.  If it never snows again this winter (very
    unlikely) school will end on or about 20 June 1996.  Not really that
    bad but I am sure we will have more snow days.
    
    My real complaint was the way that the "rescheduling" of Wednesday from
    a 1/2 day to a full day was handled.  Some parents were called by
    teachers, some were called by other parents, we know of some called by
    students, and we know of many who were not called at all!  In my mind,
    while I fully realize the importance of students being in school and
    receiving an education, it made no sense to try and reschedule the 1/2
    day to a full day.  In the end it really didn't matter since school was
    closed.
    
    If this snow keeps up I am sure that people will start talking about
    the possibility of using February and/or April vacations to make up the
    days.  In my mind, it is too close to February to use this time - I am
    sure people already have plans.  As far as April is concerned this
    would be OK but then again I am personally in favor of students (and
    adults too!) having regular breaks and I would rather see the students
    go through June than have to give up April vacation.

    The DPW had all intentions of having sidewalks and intersections ready
    for school on Wednesday.  However, a couple of mechanical failures to
    key pieces of equipment slowed down the effort and only 70% of the
    critical sidewalks were ready on time.  
    
    Frank

I don't know what Maynard's official position is, but personally, I would
not believe a phone call purportedly from a teacher, as an announcement of
what will happen the following day.  Too easy to be misused.  Anyway,
teachers generally don't have the authority.

Many area school systems and businesses alike, insist the only official
announcement is that through WBZ (and fire horn signals, for school
systems).  More official even than calling the switchboard.

I don't know about the 1/2 day conversion stuff -- that seemed ad hoc
to me as well.   I don't know about the process or anything -- I'll try to
find out (I've got a few connections).


As to the 180-day problem -- Robert Antonucci (Sec. of Ed?) announced that
if a school made a "good faith" effort to make up the days during the rest
of the year he would probably waive the 180-day requirement for this year
due to the large number of snow days accumulating.    Whether "good faith"
requires cancelling vacations, I don't know.   Whether this applies to
Maynard, I don't know.

The rationale for the 180-day waiving is that most Massachusetts schools
cannot operate in July (no air conditioning, etc.).


- dave