What programs will be in place for students on the Fridays off?
We submitted a 21st Century grant in March in collaboration with Rio Grande Educational Collaborative. If awarded, the grant will be in place for 5 years and will cover the costs for an educational Friday program at Midway Elementary, Parkview Elementary, San Antonio Elementary, and Sarracino Middle School. This program is free to all students. If we do not receive the grant, we will use CRSSA funding to support the program and keep the program free for students. This program will also provide afterschool activities including homework help for students from 3 to 6 all the days we have school.
For the High School we will be offering focused intervention for those Fridays. This will entail students having specific tutoring that address areas where they are having difficulty. Tutoring will be provided by either current teachers who want to work with them, former teachers who would like to work with students one day a week or hired tech students.
How will my child eat breakfast and lunch on Fridays?
We will continue to provide weekend meals, as well as Friday meals by sending them home with students on Thursdays. Students who attend the organized Friday programs will be fed at school
The afterschool program will also be providing evening meals for students so they would actually be getting more food than they would be on a 5-day schedule
How much extra time will a 4-day week add to the school day?
Our school days will be very similar to what we are doing now because we are offering more hours than we are required to do especially for elementary. When we move to a 4 day the length of the day for elementary will be 6 hours and 53 minutes which includes the lunch period (required hours 990: 6.39 hours X 155 days =990 hours. 6.39 is the number of hours minus the 30 min lunch) This represents an extra 25 minutes a day
Secondary will be 7 hours and 27 min which includes the lunch period (required hours 1080: 6.97 Hours X 155= 1080 hours. 6.97 is the required hours minus the 30 min lunch) This adds about 27 min to the HS day and 30 min to the Middle school day
Will a 4-Day week calendar extend the number of total days that students will attend school?
No. The state requirement is in hours, not days. The state requirement is 990 hours a school year for elementary students and 1080 hours for secondary students. Having a little longer on campus each day is how we meet the state requirement.
Interesting fact: Out of the top 10 states in student achievement in the United States, New Mexico requires more hours than 5 of them and the same amount of hours as 4 of them
Will transportation operate on those Fridays for the Friday Program?
Yes. Busses will pick up students in the morning and take them back after the day’s program.