Parents upset about a Churchill Junior High plan to shorten students' class day by three hours every other Friday learned this week they have to take part in the democratic process if they want their concerns addressed.
Churchill Principal Nancy Jadallah notified parents earlier this month that the school might cut back its Friday schedule to devote time to teacher training, staff development and motivational programs for teachers.But a number of parents who brought concerns to Granite's School Board and superintendent this week, believe teachers will use the time only to get a jump on the weekend.
"By all means, train, motivate, whatever you need to do, but don't reduce my child's classroom time," Falko Freimann told the school board Tuesday.
A few minutes later, parent Joan Haven said, "One can't help but wonder whether a short Friday will become no Friday."
Freimann called it the "dumbing down" of the system. Class periods in the short Friday schedule would be about 20 minutes each, which Freimann said wasn't enough time for students to learn anything.
Haven worried that unsupervised junior high students trooping through the neighborhood on that shortened day might torment younger children and cause crimes.
Board President Patty Sandstrom told Freimann and Haven that part of the site-based philosophy - in which schools make many of their own policy decisions rather than being dictated to by the school district - means discussion has to occur between parents, teachers and school administration.
Steve Ronnenkamp, new superintendent in the Granite School District, said Tuesday he had not seen the proposal. He supports the idea that schools make some of their own decisions but said he would be concerned about any shortening of school time.
"Schools are not allowed to have fewer contact hours with students than what is required by the (Utah) State Office of Education."
Of 15 junior high schools in the Granite School District, 13 have similar early release days, Jadallah wrote in a memo to parents. "The schools all report positive outcomes and their communities support the schools in this endeavor."
Churchill will look at this program and "determine whether or not it could be beneficial to the students at Churchill," according to the letter.
But parents apparently thought the decision had been made and on Thursday brought their concerns to the school district's top administrator.
Ronnenkamp listened carefully to concerns from a group of about 15 Churchill parents Thursday, then encouraged members of the group to participate in the decisionmaking process at the school.
The school has agreed to better notify residents about community meetings.
After the meeting Thursday, Ronnenkamp said it may take some education for parents and the community to get the hang of consensual decisionmaking.
Things are different in public education than they were a few years ago. A "top down" style of administration is now reversed in many cases. Principals, teachers and citizens are now empowered to set policy and "patrons aren't sure what role they have."
Ronnenkamp encouraged Freimann and the other parents to make the process work for them; to attend community meetings and let their opinions be heard.