USD 257 board members agreed Monday night to forgive Monday’s snow day, the third this winter, after Dr. Craig Neuenswander, superintendent of schools, noted that more than enough student-contact hours remained in the district’s schedule to meet state requirements.
Two days lost in January were previously forgiven for students; teachers will make up that time through in-service sessions May 24 and 25.
At Neuenswander’s suggestion, board members agreed 2010-11 classes should start Aug. 19. The date remains unofficial until board-teacher negotiations are completed. Neuenswander announced the date beforehand to “allow families to plan a bit for the beginning of school,” he said.
Board members approved concurrent enrollment through Allen County Community College of one course per semester for sophomores, providing prerequisites are met.
They also approved an increase in the summer driver’s education charge by $5 to $125. “We haven’t had an increase for several years,” Neuenswander said.
ABBY WORKS, an Iola High School student, encouraged board members to observe Earth Hour Saturday evening.
For an hour starting at 8:30 p.m. local time, lights will go off all over the Earth to visually represent how energy may be saved in the face of worldwide climate change.
More than 50 people and businesses in Iola have signed on to the effort, Works said.
USD 257 schools are participating through classroom conversations and by turning off lights to meet just minimal needs on Friday. The last hour of Friday classes, photocopiers, computers and other electrical appliances will be switched off.
Works asked board members to join personally.
Earth Hour began in 2007 and has grown substantially since, with 50 million people participating the second year and about a billion last year, Works said.
“We’ll have a ‘I’m not afraid of the dark’ ceremony on the downtown square starting at 8:30 Saturday night,” she said, “and we need a whole lot of cheerleaders.” Sign-up can be done online at www.myearthhour.org.
