KEA learned of the calendar changes yesterday after most schools were out for the day. Because of the December district closure, the school calendar needed to be adjusted. This change caused a domino effect. These changes are necessary as many classes require a strict 90-day semester timeline. Therefore, the semester end date had to be moved from Thursday, February 2^nd to Friday, February 3^rd. Our report card/workshop day is always the day immediately following the end of the semester. This necessitates the need to move the report card/workshop day from Friday, February 3^rd to Monday, February 6^th.

Conference week for elementary students was originally scheduled for the week of Monday, February 13^th.  KSD was concerned that with the new changes, it would not allow enough time to print report cards for use at the elementary conferences.  KEA was asked if we would agree to shorten the window that teachers had to work on report cards, input grades, and write comments. Per the CBA, teachers are allowed a minimum of 4 days after the semester ends to complete report cards. KEA did not agree to shorten the report card window, therefore KSD moved elementary conference week.

KSD explained that if they moved elementary conferences to the week of February 20^th-24^th, President’s Day week, many families (and employees) may be gone and unavailable to participate in conferences. Additionally, this change would shorten conference week from five days to four days. KSD choose instead to move the elementary conferences to the week of February 27^th - March 3^rd. These changes allow for some “wiggle room” in the event of additional weather-related closures.

In summary, KEA was allowed to give some input into decisions regarding the calendar and changes but had no say into how or when this would be communicated to staff.  Yesterday afternoon, KSD shared their final decision regarding moving conference week.  KEA had hoped to work collaboratively with the district to send out a joint communication but was not given the opportunity to do so. KEA is aware the District shared this information with the community before their staff. This is troubling and KEA will share our concerns about how this was communicated at our next Labor Management meeting.

KEA knows that these changes, although frustrating, will have the least number of negative impacts on our members. It allows for the correction of the 90 days semester timeline, contractually mandated time to complete report cards, and prepare for conferences. These changes provide a cushion in the event of additional district closures due to weather and will avoid the need to move the elementary conferences again. If there are additional weather-related closures, the end of semester and workshop day would need to be adjusted again.

You can find the current school calendar on the KEA website by clicking here.