Sunflower School District to start classes earlier next school year to make up for lost time
By Addy James, Sunflower News Staff Writer
The Sunflower District School Board unanimously voted to start school a month earlier next year to make up for the instructional time lost due to the novel coronavirus outbreak
The first day of school will now be on July 25, as opposed to the original start date of August 25. The district called off school for the rest of the year on March 23 in efforts to prevent the spread of COVID-19, which means the district lost three months of school.
The board voted on the change in an emergency public digital Skype meeting last night.
“The education we can provide for our students is just as important to us as health and safety,” Superintendent Dustin Moore said. “Now, it’s our time to provide the best learning opportunities and learning situations as possible, despite the circumstances. We feel that starting school earlier is the best way we can do so.”
School Board President Marlene Waters said one of the most important reasons she supported the proposal to move the start time is because of the students who are not as fortunate as others.
A recent survey conducted by the Clinton Chamber of Commerce found that 43% of Sunflower High School students are identified as at-risk students. Because of circumstances, at-risk students are less likely to graduate on time without intervention. Oftentimes they lack access to essentials, including consistent access to food and heat.
School is often the only place they can find a safe environment, Waters said.
“If those kids know that our building is their best option, they show up. That’s a great thing,” Waters said. “If school is closed for another four months, then where will they go? By moving school earlier, we are helping those who need help.”
Despite the board’s vote, however, the coronavirus is continuing to spread throughout the country. As of March 26, there are 69,197 cases in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, according to coverage from ABC News.
Dr. Mark Williams, chief doctor at Clinton Community Hospital, said the likelihood that the illness will spread twofold by the time the early start time will begin.
“I think there was a failure to look into the circumstances by the school board,” Williams said. “It’s a generous proposal, but that’s completely ignoring the fact that this is an illness that 80% of our population could have. I don’t think moving a date is the best way to help our students.”
Following the decision, senior Abby Michaels decided to launch a campaign against the decision, titled “Keep Students Safe.” Michaels is currently circulating a petition asking for the board to reconsider moving school earlier. The petition received 300 signatures in one night.
“[The school] is not looking out for our safety,” Michaels said. “We shouldn’t have to risk our safety just because of some instructional time.”
Moore declined to comment when asked about the risk of coronavirus spreading and Michaels’s newly-launched campaign.
Others are concerned not just for safety reasons, but also with systemic issues regarding the proposal.
Social studies teacher Rebecca Ingrid said though she appreciates the board’s efforts to help, one month is not going to make a huge difference.
“As it stands, the proposal is only moving school earlier by one month,” Ingrid said. “That’s not a life or death difference for any student. A better move could have been to move it up by two months.”
In response to similar concerns such as Ingrid’s, Moore said the board would have hoped to move school earlier, but had to take into account the district’s budget. Records obtained by Sunflower News show that the district currently owes $800,000 in debts. District staff are also receiving their usual pay, despite the cancellation of school and the looming amount of money due.
“If our situation allowed me to, I would move school two months earlier, but the reality is I can’t,” Moore said. “Moving it by one month is the best we could do to help. It is my true hope that it does.
Moving school earlier, however, also means cutting down summer vacation. Senior Joseph Croci said this is his biggest concern with the school board’s decision.
“I work really hard in school and it saddens me that I won’t get that extra month to enjoy a break,” Croci said.
Other students, such as freshman Rebecca Alberts, are happy with the additional class time.
“The more I’m at home, the less I’m learning,” Alberts said. “I’d risk the virus to be at school instead of at home watching Netflix.”
