Board Seeks Input on School Calendar, Vows to Fight Racism
Don’t be surprised if, in the coming weeks, someone asks your opinion about when school should start next year.
The Wallingford-Swarthmore School Board wants input from the school community. At their June 8 meeting, the board asked Superintendent Lisa Palmer to prepare a survey to be emailed to families. The results will inform the board’s decision about whether and how to revise the 2020-21 school calendar.
Both the board and Palmer are eager to start the year in school buildings if at all possible. But Board President David Grande fears that a large second wave of COVID-19 infections in late fall and winter may require a return to remote instruction. Starting the school year early could secure more face-to-face class time. “From my point of view, it’s all about maximizing brick and mortar,” he said.
At the board’s May 26 meeting, Grande had requested that Palmer prepare alternative calendars for the board to consider. He wanted to explore starting school two — or even four — weeks early, as well as extending the winter break. If the coronavirus surges late in the year, he reasoned, kids could benefit from a schedule keeping them at home for a longer period in December or January.
The 2020-21 school year is currently slated to start September 8 and end June 18. Winter break runs from December 23 (a half day) through December 31.
Palmer presented three calendars to the board:
August 24 through June 4, with a normal winter break.
August 24 through June 16, with an extended winter break (December 14-31).
August 10 through June 4, with an extended winter break (December 14-31).
Other variations were also possible, she said.
However, Palmer noted, teachers start school two weeks before students. Thus, an August 24 start date for students would mean teachers must be at work August 10.
Palmer opposes changing the school start date.
Teacher planning time will be significantly disrupted if school opens early, Palmer noted. Computers and supplies may be difficult to get into buildings in time for an August start. She also worries about the effect on sports and band, and whether staff who teach in the summer would get a reasonable break.
“I understand all the health benefits,” she said. “But I’m also looking at, What’s the impact on staff?”
Other Options
Board member Jennifer Lentz suggested a different approach to maximizing brick-and-mortar teaching. She proposed that if, as some reports indicate, a COVID-19 vaccine may be developed by late 2020 and become widely available by spring, school could start on time, then extend later into June if necessary. “I wonder if it would be better to treat it the way we would treat a bad snow year,” she said.
Grande, an associate professor at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, is skeptical a vaccine will be widely available that soon. “I have more confidence in the projections about a rough winter from flu and COVID than I do on vaccine availability,” he said.
Board member Marilyn Huff suggested that in-person teaching is more critical for younger children than for older ones. She floated the idea of having older students stay home to learn remotely, freeing space in the middle and high school buildings for younger kids to spread out and socially distance, with smaller classes.
Ferguson Abbot, the director of human resources and operations who leads the district committee on planning for next year, said Huff’s idea was among nine models his committee has considered.
Board members agreed that a community survey will help them assess the priorities of district families and perhaps garner some new ideas. Palmer will send out the survey in time to present results at the board’s June 22 meeting.
“The school calendar is always a hard issue,” Grande observed. “It’s certainly never been harder than now.”
New Committees to Fight Racism
Grande announced the creation of two new diversity and inclusion committees, one community-wide and the other a school board committee.
The country is grappling with how to eradicate racism, Grande said, adding, “We have a lot of work to do in our own community. And schools certainly have an important role to play.”
In late May, a short racist video made by WSSD students circulated through the school district. The video is believed to be at least two years old, but its appearance added urgency to calls for a leadership committee on diversity, equity, and inclusion. A proposal for such a committee from the group SRS Big IDEA, signed by over 100 district families, teachers, and students, was sent to Palmer and the board on May 18.
This committee will address racism and other forms of discrimination and hate-based aggression. Anyone interested in joining it is invited to contact the superintendent’s office.
The school board committee on diversity and inclusion will include board members Jerry Ballas, Michele Downie, Damon Orsetti, and Kelly Wachtman.
The superintendent’s report to the board also addressed racism. Palmer read a message, previously emailed to district families, acknowledging grief at the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis last month. Her message also noted “racist and biased incidents committed by students” in the WSSD.
“Our schools can and must be part of the change that is necessary to eradicate racism in all its forms,” the email said.
In addition to recommending the formation of the two diversity and inclusion committees, Palmer also requested an accelerated review of district curricula on racism and inclusion.
Palmer reported that she has asked Robin Burstein, senior associate director for the Philadelphia region of the Anti-Defamation League, to prepare a proposal to assist the district with the community-wide committee. The ADL also has proposed providing professional development for WSSD faculty and staff and peer-to-peer training for Strath Haven High School students. “I definitely want to see what the ADL has to offer,” Palmer said.
The ADL proposals will be presented to the board at its June 22 meeting.
Feeding the Kids: Update
Business Administrator Martha Kew told the board that the USDA waiver permitting WSSD to distribute free breakfasts and lunches to children expires June 30. An extension has been requested.
The WSSD program feeds approximately 300 students per day, Kew said. The district operates an “open program,” meaning anyone 18 or younger is eligible to receive food.
If the USDA does not extend the waiver, WSSD could offer a “closed program” instead. Closed programs, like that operated by the Rose Tree Media School District, feed only children who live in the district and are eligible for free or reduced-fee lunch, Kew explained. She said Rose Tree Media is feeding about 70 children per week.
The district is also investigating a program to distribute weekly meal kits. The kits would provide enough fresh and frozen food for fourteen breakfasts and lunches, the same number of meals provided by the current program, which distributes food three times a week. The district is working with Delaware County’s Department of Human Services to request approval for the program, which is run by the Urban League of Philadelphia. Like the current program, this one would be open to any child 18 or younger.
“We’re going to stay on top of all our options,” Kew said.
Focus on Vaping and Mental Health
The WSSD Wellness Committee will focus on combating vaping and supporting social and emotional mental health next year, according to committee chair Mary Figura, assistant to the superintendent. Members will also work to improve community outreach.
In 2019-20, the committee focused on nutrition and physical activity, Figura reported. It discussed students using recess for screen time. They also addressed ways food is used as a reward. As part of its yearly review of the district wellness policy, the committee recommended that school birthday celebrations emphasize physical activity by focusing on stories, songs, and games, rather than party favors like pencils, erasers, and stickers.
Board member Kelly Wachtman asked that the committee look into eating disorders.
Grande noted the importance of getting kids involved with the committee’s priorities, particularly discouraging vaping among their peers. “They come up with remarkably different ideas,” he said.
More Computers
The board voted to spend $363,902.95 from a federal grant to buy iPads for all district K-2 students. The iPads are necessary, Palmer said, because at least some teaching will probably be online next year.
Board member Jennifer Lentz expressed concern about the purchase. “I’m guessing screen-based time is going to be substantially upped” even when school is held on-site, she said. “A lot of parents have a very real concern about that, especially when we get to younger and younger kids.”
Palmer noted that parents who are concerned about screen time can always contact the district to opt out.
Lentz was the sole vote against buying the iPads.
2020 Graduation Lauded
Strath Haven High School graduation car parade. Photo: Ben Ainslie, SHHS ‘21
Several board members noted the success of the 2020 SHHS graduation, reimagined to accommodate social distancing.
Damon Orsetti talked about the excitement of watching the car parade through all parts of the district. Grande agreed. “The streets were lined everywhere we turned,” he said. “It was simply awesome.”
“A stunning feat of celebration,” said Chapin Cimino. “I’m hearing from the kids that they think they got a better graduation than any other class.”
View a video of this or any other WSSD school board meeting.
The next meeting will be Monday, June 22, at 7 p.m. Watch on WSSD’s YouTube Channel.
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