IMPORTANT NEWS

In an effort to make accessing my blog less complicated I have a new and easy to remember web address (url).

You can now access it with http://aprilgriffinblog.com/ . When sharing this site with friends and co-workers it will be easier to remember.

For those of you who don't like change you can continue to access this blog at http://soundoffandbeheard.blogspot.com/.

Tell me what you think

I represent all Hillsborough County schools and voters...I represent you. Tell me what you really think.

I have 2 rules. They are.

1. Don't curse or be vulgar.
2. Don't waste my time with mean-spirited insults.

Be honest, give constructive feed back but be mature and productive. If you think something is wrong, then tell me how it can be better. If you have information that would help our children, employees, or taxpayers, this is the place to share. I will use this blog to listen to your comments. Please also note that this is my personal blog, not the board's. Furthermore, the opinions expressed by posters on this blog may or may not necessarily reflect my opinions or those of the School Board.

If you don't want me to know your name, that is fine. Post anonymously.

You can also write me at
april.griffin@sdhc.k12.fl.us or call 813-272-4045.

At your service,

April Griffin,
Hillsborough County School Board Member,
District 6 (Countywide)

Wednesday, December 12, 2007

Exams after winter break...an update

I recently asked for input about giving exams before or after winter break.

I've listened to concerns both on this blog and in person in the community. The general consensus is that high school students, teachers, and parents want exams before the break for a myriad of reasons.

We are going with an academic calendar proposed last year and have tried our best to accommodate their request. Unfortunately because of the Save Our Summers (S.O.S.) legislation and the fact that we can't start our school year any sooner than 2 weeks before Labor Day we will not be able to have exams before break for the 2009/2010 school year. Labor Day starts 1 week later and there will not be enough instruction time in that semester to have exams before break.

This will only take place for one year, and we will give students 1 week for review upon their return from winter break. We will be able to return to the schedule with exams before break the following 2010/2011 school year.

Watch channel 10 news report here.

5 comments:

Beowerewulf said...

As long as, in that one week, y'all don't get ambitious and try to cram in more FCAT prep that'll work. I can visualize Mary Ellen or one of her underlings thinking they see an opportunity for more efficiency or productivity and doing just that.

Anonymous said...

Just make sure that if in the administration decides it would be a good idea to use some of that week for something besides exam review, they get shot down.

Anonymous said...

I guess this will be just one more opportunity to see how messing around with something that works --won't work. Glad my child is now in college and exams, teaching duties, schedules and other various issued aren't affected by capricious whims of the governing bodies.

Anonymous said...

another reason, amoung many others, to quit teaching...

Anonymous said...

How about this:

Start all classes AFTER Labor Day.

Give Exams Mid-January

End school sometime in June.

Really, has moving up the opening of schools significantly improved FCAT scores?

We are the 8th largest district in the U.S., for cryin' out loud: LET'S THROW OUR WEIGHT AROUND!!!