Washington schools to let out early every Friday

The Washington school board voted to release students at 1:10 p.m. every Friday for the rest of the semester, five more early outs than originally scheduled.

Superintendent Willie Stone said the move would give teachers much-needed additional prep time.

“We would go to having every Friday afternoon off at 1:10 and allowing that time for our staff members to meet if they need to meet, or allowing that time for our staff members to plan,” he said. “It gives them time back that’s honestly well-deserved.”

Stone said the need for more time was prompted by a lack of substitute teachers, which often necessitates bringing in a staff member to teach during time they would otherwise use to plan.

“We have a lot of people that volunteer to do more, they give up their prep time, and that prep time is very important for them to be able to prepare for the next day, it’s written into their contract,” Stone said. “The LMC group unanimously said, ‘We want time.’”

While the policy is currently only scheduled for the rest of this semester, Stone said the district might keep it for the rest of the school year depending on results.

“I would recommend doing that for the rest of this semester, and revisit that again in December to see where we’re at,” he said. “If things have gotten better, if we’re not covering as much. If it hasn’t gotten better, then at that time in December I would recommend we do it for the remainder of the year.”

The new early-out dates are Oct. 22, Nov. 12, Dec. 3, Dec. 17 and Jan. 7.

Comments: Kalen.McCain@southeastiowaunion.com