Stonington Public Schools will have their full April Vacation. The Board of Education voted to reinstate the three days of April vacation they had previously eliminated. Below is a transcript from the meeting held tonight at 7 p.m. A full story will be posted later.
7:55 p.m.: Board votes to reinstate April vacation and move the graduation date to June 13, 2012.
7:42 p.m.: Public comments have ended, moving into board discussion.
7:40 p.m.: Another parent speaks this time with concern for the teachers. She said that while many kids will miss those days that is not an option for teachers without a lot of hassle. She also said that the district is putting the conversation of vacations and parties ahead of school days and wonders about the message the district is sending to the students about the importance of school.
7:30 p.m.: Several parents have spoken about their frustration with how the schools communicated the April vacation decision and urged the board to plan better in the future. Others have said they don’t understand why it took the board so long to deal with the necessary changes to the calendar.
7:25 p.m.: A member of the senior class says changing graduation makes it feel as though a promise has been broken.
7:23 p.m.: Kristin Green, a parent speaks, in favor of reinstating April vacation. Says she is not going on vacation but believes the students need a break.
7:18 p.m.: Two members of the senior class speak in favor of keeping graduation on June 8. One offers a suggestion of a full day or half day on Good Friday, Memorial Day and day after graduation.
7:15 p.m.: Gretchen Noonan, the Stonington Teachers Union President speaks in support of Masterjoseph’s recommendation.
7:10 p.m.: The public will now have the chance to speak.
7:06 p.m.: Masterjoseph recommends reinstatement of full April Vacation. The last day of school would be June 13, which would also be the day of graduation.
7:02 p.m.: Meeting started. Board member Deborah Downie will not vote as she has a family member that could be involved in bargaining Superintendent Leanne Masterjoseph speaking now.
6:56 p.m.: The meeting is scheduled to begin in just a few minutes. Most of the tables in the Stonington High School commons are full of teachers, parents and students.
