But due to a new provision in the South Orange Maplewood Education Association contract, forged last summer, teachers are now entitled to a shortened, four-hour day when there is a back to school night.
Because of some miscommunication, this was not addressed for at least two schools, Marshall and Tuscan, which have back-to-school nights planned for this week.
Therefore, Tuscan has postponed its back-to-school nights for Sept. 14 and 15 and Marshall has instituted a last-minute notice for a four-hour day for Sept. 15.
District spokeswoman Judy Levy confirmed the SOMEA contract change, but said the communication was just not done in time to institute the half-day schedules for all schools.
"The contract was changed this summer, it allows four-hour days for back to school nights," she said.
"Even though school opened smoothly, all of these other things (hurricane, earthquake) disrupted things, the information didn't get out there that it was a half day so some of the principals didn't want to put that kind of burden on parents at the very last minute."
"Some of the principals with only a day or two notice did not feel that was fair to parents."
The Marshall-Jefferson website posted this notice:
Welcome Back Marshall & Jefferson Families!
Back to School nights - School Schedule Change AnnouncementThe Board of Education will shortly announce that schools with Back to School nights scheduled in the evenings will be required, per the SOMEA contract, to have four hour days for students on those school days.
Marshall School has a Back to School Night scheduled for Thursday, September 15th. Thus Marshall School will be required to have a four hour day for students. School will be dismissed at 12:45 pm.
Jefferson School has its Back to School Night on Tuesday, September 20th. Thus Jefferson School will be required to have a four hour day for students. School will be dismissed at 12:05 pm, and there will be no afternoon pre-school. Please check with ASP regarding logistics for the 1/2 days (9/15 & 9/20). We will update you if we receive any additional information.
Marshall School has a Back to School Night scheduled for Thursday, September 15th. Thus Marshall School will be required to have a four hour day for students. School will be dismissed at 12:45 pm.
Jefferson School has its Back to School Night on Tuesday, September 20th. Thus Jefferson School will be required to have a four hour day for students. School will be dismissed at 12:05 pm, and there will be no afternoon pre-school. Please check with ASP regarding logistics for the 1/2 days (9/15 & 9/20). We will update you if we receive any additional information.
District officials also sent this notice to Tuscan parents this morning: (Note the typo)
This is Assistant Superintendent, Jim Memoli. I want to inform you that the two back-to-school nights scheduled for Tuscan School for this Wednesday, September 14 and Thursday, September 15 have been postponed. There will be one back-to-school night on Monday, September 26, 2011. You will receive additional information about that evening form Ms. Majeed. Please know that due to the back-to-school night on September 26, Tuscan School students will be dismissed at 12:45 p.m. on Monday, September 26th according to the half-day schedule. Thank you and we apologize for any inconvenience.
at south mountain, there is a different 1/2 day for annex (on their back to school night) and big school (their back to school night the next day, which means parents at both schools have 2 1/2 days in a row.
ReplyDeleteharumph.