The Bend-La Pine School Board will consider adjustments to the school calendar at their June 13 meeting. A review committee has recommended that elementary and middle schools continue releasing students early on Wednesdays, giving staff time for collaboration and school improvement initiatives. However, the committee has suggested that the school improvement time at the high schools be consolidated with work days at the end of the quarter and at parent-teacher conference times.

For the 2005-06 school year, high schools started late every other Wednesday, while elementary and middle schools finished school early every Wednesday afternoon. The school improvement program gave staff the opportunity to focus on strategies for student improvement, and kept students in school for more continuous days compared to previous calendars.

Data collected from staff and parents showed that school improvements times were well utilized at the elementary and middle school levels but not fully supported at the high schools. The calendar committee’s recommendations for staff development efforts at the high schools results in 10 more hours of instruction during the school year. Based on parent feedback, the committee has also recommended that evening parent-teacher conferences in the spring and fall be reinstated at the high schools.

La Pine elementary and middle schools will align with schools in Bend and adopt an early release schedule on Wednesday. La Pine High will follow a staff development concept, similar to the Bend high schools.

The board has reviewed the proposals and data collected through surveys, and will make their decision regarding the 2006-07 calendar at their June 13 meeting, 6 p.m. in the Education Center, 520 NW Wall.