Last day of school changed

It was a surprise to many Hillsborough County parents and at least one school board member.

The last day of school has moved from June 10 - a Friday - to June 13 - a Monday.

"There is no way that parents are going to let their children go to school that last day," said parent Shannon Figley.

Especially when it's just a half day, said the South Tampa mom of three.

"The week before is their fun time when they're turning in books, having their field days, class parties and movie days," she said. "For the last day of school to be on Monday - that is asinine."

The school calendar change was part of the negotiations between the district and the local school employees' unions, Hillsborough Classroom Teachers Association and Hillsborough School Employees Federation.

Other changes included the addition of two days off during the week of Thanksgiving - shutting down schools the entire week - and two more days off in late March.

But the switch that caught many by surprise was the last day of school.

"It's got to be fixed," said school board member Candy Olson. "It doesn't make sense."

Olson said she didn't realize the contract included changes to the last day of school, but she called it another example of how the process of planning a calendar must change.

"We need to start sooner and have a goal so we're not doing this two weeks into the school year," she said.

Olson and the school board voted Tuesday in favor of the contracts, which give most employees a 2 percent raise. She called for a committee to work this year on looking at how the district uses its days, from class time to planning.

She also wants to start the process earlier.

But that's difficult, said Melissa Erickson, president of the Hillsborough County Council of PTA/PTSA, which has 57,000 parent members.

The district often has to wait for the Legislature to allocate money before the union and district can negotiate, Erickson said, and by the time matters are settled, school has started.

She likes the idea of a committee, though.

"Parents are stakeholders in this, and they should be consulted," she said.

Nick Whitman, executive director of the Classroom Teachers Association, said restoring June 10 as the last day might mean adding back days Thanksgiving week or in March.

The district could decrease its teaching days from 181 to 180, the number required by the state for full per-pupil funding.

Hillsborough would lose funding, Whitman said, but also eliminate a day of transportation and other costs.

"It would be a wash," he said.