Late start Tuesdays to end this year at New Bloomfield R-3

Late Start Tuesdays will end at the close of the current school year at the New Bloomfield R-3 School District.

The New Bloomfield Board of Education unanimously approved a plan Thursday night that provides six full days for teacher professional development instead of taking two hours before the start of the school day on about 30 Tuesdays throughout the school year.

Superintendent David Tramel said when the district started Late Start Tuesdays in 2003 the district added 6.65 minutes to the school day in order to take two hours off for teachers instructional professional development time each week.

By leaving the teacher development day the same and replacing the 30 late starts with six full days of professional development, Tramel said the school is able to exceed the state-mandated 1,044 hours of instruction during 163 days of attendance.

"Our start and end dates next year are still close to the same as previous years," Tramel said, "and we will no longer have one day a week with a shortened schedule."

Tramel said teachers and parents alike would rather that the school use an entire day for professional development six times a year rather than starting late about 30 times a year.

The superintendent said school districts at Eugene and Russellville already have dropped Late Start Tuesdays in favor of the plan approved Thursday night.

In other business, Tramel said elementary and high school teachers have had their first round of professional security training on how to deal with intruders.

He said the school also plans to install remote locks on doors and upgrades on security cameras.

Tramel reported the district's finances are in good shape and he was pleased to learn the district may receive up to $300,000 more money in state aid next year than anticipated.

"I am hoping the district may be able next year to approve one or two steps of salary increases for teachers," Tramel said.

Tramel said the three-week summer school this year will be from May 22 to June 12.

Remediation classes will be offered along with additional credit courses.