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NEWS RELEASE:
Tuesday, May 7, 2018
Why a minor reconfiguration of the high school semester is about more than keeping teachers and students in a same school during August break. (With students’ return to school on Monday and teachers’ return on Tuesday)
Winnepeg, NY – The Central New York School Boards Association (CNYSBA) today announced that it has reached a tentative agreement with Canada Lake Central Schools. This is expected to be ratified by the board of education by Friday, May 11.
“This agreement is a win for our board of education, for our teachers, and most importantly, for our students. For the first time in two years, our students will have access to teachers for a school year rather than interrupting their continuity of educational experiences in the midst of the vacation,” said New Hartford School Board President Philip McNeil, Board of Education Vice President Jessica Cunningham and Union County Central Superintendent of Schools Christopher Sanchez.
The teachers are expected to return to the same school, Canada Lake Central High School, on Monday, May 14. Some students could attend classes on Tuesday, May 15, but this decision has not been finalized. After the teachers return, boards and teachers will hold a vote on whether to approve the agreement. The union, CNY CSEA, is expected to hold a ratification vote at its board meeting on May 14.
Last summer, in response to a business need, CNYCSEA asked the School Boards Association to permit Central New York school districts to reconfigure their academic calendar. The adjustment of the high school semester allowed districts with more than 900 students to begin their academic year in mid-August.
Central New York School Boards Association Executive Director Denise Rapaccioli says, “The original calendar change approved in July of 2016 was simply a business decision for our members. Many districts in the Central New York region have been hard pressed to accommodate the previous August break and if this is not resolved, there may not be a break until August of 2019, which is also the longest recess ever in New York State.”
According to the Council of Great City Schools, previous academic school breaks have included late February breaks, late June break, early October break, and early December break.
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