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The Nebraska City School Board agreed Monday to terminate Wacky Wednesdays at the end of this school year.
For grades kindergarten through fifth, Wacky Wednesdays meant student dismissal at 1:30 p.m. on the first Wednesday of the month.
It was instituted about 10 years ago to give elementary teachers more planning time and Tom Farrell of the board said it served its purpose to that extent. He said it was intended to balance planning time between the high school, middle school and the elementary schools.
It has not been popular with all parents, however, as home schedules are disrupted and working parents have to find day care for the afternoon.
Stacie Higgins of the board's education committee said the school buses also run twice on Wacky Wednesdays to accommodate the early dismissal for some students. The bus transportation costs are about $1,500 per month or $15,000 per year.
“In that it gave teachers the opportunity for planning, Wacky Wednesday was successful, but it really has become difficult for families,” Higgins said.
Elementary principals Scot Davis and Tony Little said they will be working with teachers to determine options for planning time.
The decision to end Wacky Wednesdays came with the approval of next year's school calendar, which includes four snow days and adds 10 minutes to each school day.
School times next year will be 8 to 3:40 at high school, 8:05 to 3:32 at middle school, 8:10 to 3:20 at Northside and 8:15 to 3:25 at Hayward.
Board Chairman John Crook said the extra instructional time is factor when the state calculates its contribution to the school district.
The start of the school year is set on Aug. 17 and the last day of school on May 23.
School for grades kindergarten through eight started this year on Aug. 24 and classes are scheduled to dismiss on May 27.
The Nebraska City School Board agreed Monday to terminate Wacky Wednesdays at the end of this school year.
For grades kindergarten through fifth, Wacky Wednesdays meant student dismissal at 1:30 p.m. on the first Wednesday of the month.
It was instituted about 10 years ago to give elementary teachers more planning time and Tom Farrell of the board said it served its purpose to that extent. He said it was intended to balance planning time between the high school, middle school and the elementary schools.
It has not been popular with all parents, however, as home schedules are disrupted and working parents have to find day care for the afternoon.
Stacie Higgins of the board's education committee said the school buses also run twice on Wacky Wednesdays to accommodate the early dismissal for some students. The bus transportation costs are about $1,500 per month or $15,000 per year.
“In that it gave teachers the opportunity for planning, Wacky Wednesday was successful, but it really has become difficult for families,” Higgins said.
Elementary principals Scot Davis and Tony Little said they will be working with teachers to determine options for planning time.
The decision to end Wacky Wednesdays came with the approval of next year's school calendar, which includes four snow days and adds 10 minutes to each school day.
School times next year will be 8 to 3:40 at high school, 8:05 to 3:32 at middle school, 8:10 to 3:20 at Northside and 8:15 to 3:25 at Hayward.
Board Chairman John Crook said the extra instructional time is factor when the state calculates its contribution to the school district.
The start of the school year is set on Aug. 17 and the last day of school on May 23.
School for grades kindergarten through eight started this year on Aug. 24 and classes are scheduled to dismiss on May 27.
