SALT LAKE CITY — Summer vacation always seems to end early in the minds of most adolescents, but for students at two schools in Utah, it actually will.
Salt Lake School District's Glendale and Northwest middle schools will begin classes Monday — seven days earlier than other schools in the district. The schools are two of seven in the state that were awarded federal School Improvement Grants, which require low-performing, high-poverty schools to make significant changes in an effort to improve academic performance.
Utah was awarded a total of $14.7 million for the grants, through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
"One thing I keep saying is we need more time in front of kids," said Principal John Erlacher, who is new to the school this year. He is hoping the added days will boost academics and provide more time for teachers to connect with students.
To receive the grants, districts had to choose one of four improvement models: close the school, turn the school into a charter school, replace the principal and half of the teachers, or replace the principal and reform the school through curriculum changes, extended class time, increased teacher development and other tactics. All of the selected districts — Granite, Salt Lake, San Juan and Ogden — went for the latter option.
Salt Lake, however, is the only one that opted to lengthen the school year as part of its transformation, in addition to tacking on 55 minutes to each school day. Classes will begin at 8:25 and end at 3:45.
Sarah Orozco, who will be heading back to school a week before her little sister, says she doesn't mind.
"I like to come to school," said Orozco, who will be a sixth-grader this year.
Ezequiel Ramirez, an eighth-grader, said he's not happy he'll have to wake up earlier, but he does think the extra time will help him learn.
Teachers at the school have more to gain or lose through the changes. The district set achievement goals for each year of the three-year grant, and teachers will be rewarded bonuses of 18 percent, if student goals are met. Part of the stipulations also mandate that teachers whose students do not reach improvement goals will be transferred.
Kim Perry, a reading teacher at Glendale, said she was disappointed at first when she heard her summer vacation would be cut, but got over it quickly once she was in the groove of preparing for the school year. She's confident the planned improvements will work.
"I think it will definitely benefit students," Perry said. "Shortening that long summer gap is going to help them."
Salt Lake resident Nary Valdez said she's supportive of the altered schedule so long as the curriculum stays tough, because she wants her granddaughter, who does well academically, to be challenged.
The districts selected for the grants were chosen by a panel of representatives from the Utah State Office of Education. Seven districts applied for grants, and while three of the applicants weren't selected, the state office set aside 25 percent of the $14.7 million total that it will distribute in future grant contests.
Districts receiving funding include Salt Lake City, which will allot $5.35 million to Glendale and Northwest Middle Schools; Ogden, which is giving $4.95 million to James Madison, Odyssey and Dee elementary schools; Granite, with $2 million for Granger Hill; and $750,000 to Bluff Elementary School in the San Juan School District.
e-mail: mfarmer@desnews.com