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Teach-In Among Hillsborough's Early Release Dates

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By KEITH MORELLI

The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 4, 2008

TAMPA - One of the proposed dates for early release of students in the Hillsborough County School District happens to fall on the Great American Teach-In, but officials were aware of it and said the early dismissal will have little, if any, impact on the event.

The Hillsborough Classroom Teachers Association, the teachers' bargaining unit, and the school district have tentatively agreed to allow the early release of students one day a month for the remainder of the school year so teachers have time to plan their lessons.

The proposal still needs the approval of the rank-and-file union members and a majority vote of the school board, but both sides have agreed on the issue.

Ballots that have been sent to teachers will be counted Oct. 20. The school board is scheduled to take up the issue the next day. The first early release is scheduled for Oct. 29, should the matter pass.

The next is Nov. 19, and that's the annual teach-in day, when business representatives and parents go to schools and share information about their jobs with students. Many volunteers schedule time off from work to participate.

"We will still be able to have it," school district spokeswoman Linda Cobbe said. "We still will have people throughout the day."

Schools that have scheduled guest teachers for later in the day can have them come in earlier or on another day, she said. Guest teachers are scheduled throughout the calendar year and aren't limited to just the teach-in day, she said.

"Many schools have teach-in teachers on other days anyways," she said. "If they had scheduled them for later in the day, they will be moved. If they can't come in early, they can make it for another day."

Reporter Keith Morelli can be reached at (813) 259-7760 or kmorelli@tampatrib.com.

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