February 10, 2010

Dear Parents,

House Bill 1864 was passed last year by the Oklahoma Legislature to enable school districts to respond to unique situations by adopting a policy defining a school year as 1,080 hours rather than 180 days.  At their June, 2009 meeting, the Duncan Board of Education voted to define a school year as 1,080 hours and made the appropriate notification to the Oklahoma State Department of Education.  The intent of the legislation was flexibility to respond, not decreased instructional time. The recent weather and subsequent power outages certainly constitute a unique situation, so the district will utilize the flexibility that our current schedule and policy provides.  Therefore, the days missed because of the recent weather event will not have to be made up by students and teachers.  A revision to the recently revised calendar will be posted within the next few days on our website.

Should we experience another weather/power outage that causes additional lost time, hours lost will be recalculated and another revision may occur.  There is a limit to the number of hours/days that can be absorbed.  Keep your fingers crossed that the lights stay on and the weather cooperates!

I am pleased that we exercised the option to adopt the 1,080 hour calendar because of the flexibility it allows our district.  However, I am concerned about the loss of instructional time and know that you are as well.  Because we have missed valuable instructional time, teachers, staff and administrators are committed to staying on task and assuring that every minute in the classroom counts.

Please visit with your building principal if you have questions or need further clarification about “days missed” for Duncan Schools.  Thank you for your cooperation!!!

TOGETHER WE MAKE A DIFFERENCE!!!

Sincerely,

Sherry Labyer, Ed.D.