Columbus Municipal School District will hold another meeting to discuss the 2021-22 school calendar after the president of the local teachers organization criticized a lack of teacher input for the plans during Monday’s regular school board meeting.
Zimiko Turner, a chemistry teacher at Columbus High School and president of the Columbus-Lowndes Association of Educators, told the board that the district has not listened to teachers’ concerns about adopting a modified school calendar that would shorten the summer break and create long breaks during the fall, winter and spring.
“I’m here today to express our concern and disappointment in the lack of input we have had in this decision,” Turner said.
Turner said a survey conducted by her organization shows teachers and support staff are overwhelming opposed to adopting a modified schedule for the upcoming year.
“Of the 119 responses, 84 percent indicated they were not in support of the modified calendar for the 21-22 school year,” Turner said. “Some of the feedback was a lack of proper planning time, conflicts with parents’ work schedule and insufficient data that this would enhance student achievement.”
Turner said the first public meeting to discuss the issue seemed to suggest the school district had already made up its mind to move forward with a modified school calendar for the upcoming year. In its initial meeting, the board heard from representatives from the Corinth School District, which is now in its fifth year under a modified calendar similar to the one CMSD is considering.
“I went to the first meeting. It sounded like an infomercial for the Corinth School District,” Turner said. “There were numerous questions asked but weren’t answered. The logistical part of the calendar was addressed, but there were so many other issues that were bought up that weren’t addressed.”
Turner said teachers are concerned the district is moving too fast.
“I’m not saying the teachers are not in support of the modified calendar,” Turner said. “I’m saying we are not in support of it being implemented for this next year.”
Turner said adopting a different calendar during a time when teachers are struggling to educate students because of the COVID-19 pandemic increases stress and frustration for teachers.
“We are exhausted,” Turner said. “We’re in the trenches every day. We are the ones that comb a child’s hair when they come to school and their hair hasn’t been brushed. We are the ones who have to be that big sister or big brother.”
CMSD Superintendent Cherie Labat countered that the disruptions caused by the pandemic present the district with an opportunity to move decisively to improve the learning environment.
“I think what (Turner) said about teachers being exhausted is actually an argument for the modified schedule, not against it,” Labat said. “We know our teachers are exhausted. That’s why having a three-week break in the first semester is a good thing. It gives teachers a chance to rest.”
Labat said the benefits of the modified schedule addresses the highest priority in education.
“We are in a crisis,” Labat said. “We know that because the issues have been discussed again and again and again. There are two important factors we have to address. One is that students experience learning gaps when they go with instruction for summer breaks of 11 to 12 weeks. The second reason we are in crisis is because of learning gaps from interruptions caused by COVID-19. Not taking measures to improve or mitigate these issues will be detrimental to students’ ability to become college/career prepared. It’s time to act.”
Board President Jason Spears said it is the district’s desire to make sure teachers are heard and have an opportunity to participate in the discussion.
“In the past, we’ve held big stakeholder meetings at Joe Cook (Elementary) or here (at Brandon Central Services) to get as much information as possible and to communicate that information to the public,” he said. “That hasn’t changed.”
Following the discussion, the board voted to recess the meeting until Feb. 19. It will meet from 3 to 8 p.m., to allow teachers and the public to discuss the modified calendar.
“That should be enough time to allow teachers to come in and listen and ask questions at any time during the meeting,” Spears said.
Slim Smith is a columnist and feature writer for The Dispatch. His email address is [email protected].
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