As we look ahead to the final forum for the proposed balanced school year for the Albert Lea school district, there are still some concerns and questions that I have.

The first is the answer I have read in regard to the question of why this is being proposed. The answer given was the, “There is conclusive evidence that indicates a balanced calendar approach to education is beneficial to students considered at-risk.”

What does the evidence show for the over 2,800-plus other students in our district that are not considered at-risk?

The other that I think needs a further look at is the fact double practice sessions in August will be the main thing affected by sports.

Let’s take a look at spring sports. With the proposed schedule, spring athletes will have at a minimum four weeks without school in session. If they would be fortunate to make it to state, it would be five weeks. If you have ever coached high school teams like my wife and I have for over 35 years combined, we can tell you games on days when there is no school can be difficult, or a “nightmare” as one former Albert Lea High School coach put it to me. Kids are going to bed later, getting up later, eating breakfast and lunch at different times and are just not on the schedule that they have with their everyday school routine.

Then you also have the issue of how to get your non-driving athletes to and from practice. A quick look at this fall’s Albert Lea boys’ and girls’ cross country teams show 25 athletes who are sophomores or younger while the girls’ swimming team features 16. With a break scheduled for early October, there would be at least three weeks of getting these kids to and from practice.

With school scheduled to start on Aug. 10 and the Freeborn County Fair the week before, parents will be forced to take their vacations in June and July. This would have a major impact on our summer youth sports or our future Tigers. Other towns will not adjust their games to meet the schedule of a single town. Parents shouldn’t have to choose between taking a family vacation or staying home for games when the summer is shortened. The Minnesota State High School League is always promoting the value in extra curricular activities and their correlation to higher grade-point averages.

Another thought that I have concern was brought up at the second forum without anyone having an answer to is how a new student moving into the district three or more weeks into a traditional school year calendar would catch up those three weeks that Albert Lea had in already by starting Aug. 10.

We welcomed an exchange student into our home who started school on Sept. 15. It took her four weeks to get caught up. What if there would have been the three extra weeks? What if someone was looking at moving to town right before a semester break? Would this be a deal-breaker for someone looking to relocate their family to our city versus another city for a new career opportunity?

I encourage everyone who has children in Albert Lea to bring their questions and concerns to the forum this Thursday at 5 p.m. at Albert Lea High School.

 

Tom Jones

Albert Lea