Year-round schedule remains

After months of heated debate and sometimes tearful pleadings from teachers and parents, the controversy over Fremont Elementary School's calendar has concluded.

Superintendent Richard Stokes said Thursday the school will keep its year-round schedule.

"I'm really anxious for us to put this part of our experience behind us so we can move forward," he said. "I'm anxious to roll up our sleeves and try to figure this thing out."

The decision came after the school board voted at its most recent meeting to approve both the year-round and traditional calendars. It was meant as a move to delay the decision, but some questioned if trustees inadvertently set the schedule since the law requires calendars to be determined by the end of March.

"Since the board has not voted to change their schedule and are required to have a schedule by the end of March, they can only change next year's schedule by violating or amending their own policy," trustee Joe Enge wrote in an e-mail.

Stokes said many factors played into the decision, including the emotional distress.

"I think anytime you have conflict that exhibits itself in public meetings in a negative way, that's not good for the community," Stokes said. "This is my first year as superintendent, and I've learned a lot about human dynamics. It's important for us now to come together and look at the needs of the community as a whole."

The school district is facing an estimated decrease in revenue from the state of up to $7.2 million.

In a proposal referred to as "Plan A," the district considered closing an elementary school to save about $3.5 million. However, public outcry shifted the district to "Plan B," which included switching Fremont's year-round schedule to a traditional nine-month calendar.

The estimated savings was $23,000 in addition to increased efficiency.

Stokes said the district is moving forward with other elements of Plan B, which include staff layoffs and reducing transportation.

Elementary school students who live more than a mile from school are provided bus service now. Next year, the walk radius would be increased to a mile and a half. Secondary students would be provided bus service if they live more than three miles from school, rather than the two-mile walk radius now.

Stokes said the district will continue to look into the possibilities of closing a school or standardizing school schedules for next year. He said he plans to form a committee made up of community members, similar to ones that look into bond issues, to analyze the budget.

"It will be helpful as we gather ideas," he said. "We want to look into ways to save money but also to decide what direction to take the district in."

Fremont Elementary School is on a two-week break, so the principal has been notifying the employees via e-mail.

Fremont teacher Jennifer Locke, who had been an outspoken critic of plans to change the school's schedule, said she was relieved to hear the news but frustrated by the process.

"I'm ecstatic," she said. "But although I'm glad we pulled together and we won, I thought they could have alleviated a lot of hurt feelings. They sat there and they listened to us, but I'm not sure they really heard us. It felt like they just placated us."