Talk to anyone and they will be telling you that kids in PWC will be going to school until the 4th of July. People are questioning why there is no school on Monday. Don’t these kids have to make up the missed time? No. Not yet.
There were 2 built in days. Those are gone. There have been a total of 10 days used. 3 in December, 2 for the 6 inch snow and 5 for last week. I count ten used. PWC kids can miss 7 more days before the doom and gloom of July 4th according to the PWCS website:
Explanation of “Snow Days” in PWCS
State law mandates 180 days of school but allows for school divisions to make up missed teaching days by providing students with instructional hours equivalent to the missed days to meet the minimum 990 teaching-hour requirement. In PWCS, we have additional days built into the calendar (two this year at the middle and high school level, and one at the elementary school level) but we also provide more than the minimum time of required instruction with a six-hour school day. This provides adequate time to meet the state minimum number of teaching hours if school is closed for an extended number of days. This allows for up to 15 additional days for all students after the use of the “built-in” days
It seems hard to believe but that’s the nuts and bolts of it. The kids of Prince William have dodged the bullet.
[UPDATE: Ms. Lucas has clarified some of the questions posed in the post. See her comments below.]
On December 3, 2009, PWCS announced the resignation of Neabsco District School Board member Julie Lucas, effective December 31. Ms. Lucas was a dedicated board member who appeared to have the best interest of all PW kids on the front burner. She was accessible and was highly regarded by parents, staff, and administration.
Ms. Lucas cited care of her father as the reason for her departure and she did indicate she would be leaving Virginia to help her family. If she is leaving Virginia, how can she serve on the Governor-Elect’s Education Workgroup? Are we the public missing something here?
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From the Supervisor of Community Relations Office, Prince William County Schools:
On December 16, the Prince William County School Board approved the framework for a “Teacher Incentive Performance Award” (TIPA). This would provide a potential monetary stipend for all school-based, certificated employees included in site-based budgets at schools that meet specific eligibility requirements that will be developed later. The TIPA would be implemented beginning with the 2010-11 school year, subject to the availability of funding.
Work will now begin in developing criteria that meet the requirements set forth in the soon-to-be-released “Teacher Incentive Fund” grant program, a component of the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Receiving such a grant would be essential for Prince William County Public Schools to successfully implement this initiative.
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