CUMBERLAND – School just let out and if Cumberland Public School students are lucky, they just might get an extra two days of summer.

The Cumberland School Board will consider amending the 2013-2014 school calendar during their next meeting on June 10. In a letter addressed to students, staff, parents and citizens, Dr. Amy Griffin, superintendent of schools, listed three particular amendments she is recommending to next year's school calendar.

Although a calendar was approved during their March meeting, Dr. Griffin explained to The Herald that she is recommending some adjustments in order to implement new professional development methods for teachers.

The three major changes add an additional two days for teacher professional development at the beginning of the school year, move the first day of school forward, end early dismissal days at noon instead of 1 p.m. and ensure one early dismissal day scheduled for each month.

Dr. Griffin explained that the school has developed project-based learning modules and collaborative teams for teacher's professional development. Primarily, she is requesting the changes so that the school has time to use these new professional development methods.

The collaborative team approach “enables more comprehensive and meaningful professional development that sticks and actually gets implemented in the classroom,” Dr. Griffin explained, “It's not a one-shot thing where we talk about it and then it's gone.”

The project-based learning module will take five modules. Trying to find a time to schedule those modules is partially what prompted Dr. Griffin to begin rethinking the school calendar.

Also, she pointed to the new, more rigorous standards of learning for many subjects, “we need time to unpack the standards and develop quality lessons.”

“Plus,” she said, “we need to model what we preach to our students. We want our students to collaborate, critically think and problem solve together. Our teachers need to do the same.”

By moving the first day of school for students from Thursday, August 8, to Monday, August 12, the calendar provides two additional days for professional development.

Students will have the same number of instructional days. They will stay an additional day before Christmas break and an additional day at the end of the school year, to make up for the two-day late start, if the amendments are approved, according to Dr. Griffin.

Dr. Griffin explained that if there was not already an early dismissal day scheduled during a month, one was added.

The original calendar had sought to limit the number of early dismissal days because, “it can be an inconvenience for parents,” Dr. Griffin said.

She stated that she tried to schedule the early dismissal days as conveniently for parents as possible. Except for an early dismissal day scheduled for September 11, the rest were already scheduled to be an early dismissal day or for a Friday before a three-day weekend, she explained.

“So, we tried to meet the needs of everybody,” she concluded, “It's not the perfect calendar. I think we have a long way to go. But, it is, I think, a step in the right direction. Because, we have to balance providing the necessary instructional time for our students, but also the appropriate amount of planning time that goes into making sure we have quality instruction in the classroom.”

Dr. Griffin is encouraging input on the subject. Those with questions or comments should contact Elizabeth Jamerson, director of human resources and school board clerk, at ejamerson@cucps.k12.va.us or at 804-492-4212. The amended calendar can be viewed on the school website: www.cucps.k12.va.us.

There will also be time for public comment at the board meeting.

Students, parents and staff will be notified of the board's decision “through email, the website, our Alert system and a letter mailed home,” Dr. Griffin wrote in her letter.

Lunch Prices

The board will also vote on whether to raise the price of school lunches by 10 cents for students paying for the full price lunch during next month's meeting.

The school administration is recommending the increase, which is a result of The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 that was signed into law by the President in 2010, according to information in the board packet.

According to the packet, the law requires schools to provide the same level of support for lunches served to students paying for lunch as for lunches served to students eligible for free lunch.

During the past school year, lunches cost students, who paid full price, $1.60. If approved by the board, full-price lunches would cost $1.70 during the upcoming school year.

According to the 2010 law, minimum required cost for lunches is $2.46, according to the packet. Assistant Superintendent of Finance and Operations Chip Jones told the board that the federal government is recommending that schools below the minimum gradually raise their lunch price each year to meet it. However, the school can't raise the price more than 10 cents each school year.

It has been two years since the school lunch price was raised, according to Jones.

All other lunch prices would remain the same, Jones explained. Reduced lunch rates are determined by the federal government and will not be affected by a raise, according to Jones.

When Chairman Ginger Sanderson, District One, asked if the board had any other options than improve the increase, Jones stated that at some point the federal government will require the school to charge the full amount of $2.46. Jones said he believes it would be fairer to gradually raise the price instead of suddenly jumping to the new required amount.

Those who are eligible will still qualify for the free and reduced lunch, Jones explained.

In Other Board News

– The board unanimously approved the school's technology plan and a new principal evaluation tool, both of which were presented to them the previous month as a first-read.

– Policy updates and revisions given the board last month for a first-read were also unanimously approved by the board. The packet stated, “a majority of the changes are dictated by legislative action resulting in the Code of Virginia being amended.”

– The board also unanimously voted for the adjustment of courses, previously known as Building Trades.

During last month's meeting, Dr. Griffin recommended that instead of building trades, the board approve offering carpentry courses. She stated that both the instructor and administration felt the new courses will offer more detailed instruction in a subject matter that students will need as they go out into the workforce.

After being questioned by board member George Lee Dowdy III, District Two, Dr. Griffin explained that the courses would now be specializing in carpentry, instead of teaching the broader category of building trades. She also added that it will add no additional positions.

– Mary Huddleston was made the 2013-2014 Student Liaison to the School Board, by a unanimous vote. Dr. Griffin announced that four students had applied for the position and that she is recommending Huddleston for the position. They also voted that Ivy Arbaugh, who was also recommended by Dr. Griffin, be made her alternate.

– Dr. Griffin announced that Cumberland County Public Schools will become a Lab School for Longwood University beginning in the fall.