Teachers receive another planning day

The first two times the Cedar Grove-Belgium School Board approved adding Friday in-service days to allow staff members to plan for a combination of in-person and online teaching, there wasn’t any response.

On March 10, two School Board members said they received feedback from parents about adding another in-service day.

Dan Bruhn said parents have talked to him about students having off from school too often this year.

“This is one thing that has helped the staff,” he said, adding that the extra days help “keep the sanity and organization it takes” to hold in-person classes.

“It does seem that my kids are home a ton, but I also realize the alternative is they’d be home a heck of a lot more” if the district went to all online school, he said.

Board member Kurt Kraus said he also heard parent complaints that students were out of school too often.

“I said, ‘Really? Our school has been in school since day one, and we’re doing what we have to do to get through this year,’” he said.

The School Board in early fall approved giving teachers two more in-service days on Fridays during the first semester and in December switched Feb. 5 and March 5 to in-service days.

Last week, Friday, April 23, was made an in-service day on a 6-0 vote.

“If you’ve got a problem with it, come talk to us because this is what’s needed,” Kraus said.

“I want teachers to know that I totally support them this year. We’re doing way more than other schools and I can’t say enough about the job we’re doing.”

The added in-service days set up a schedule that gives students every other Friday off.

Supt. Chad Brakke earlier told the board that staff members are appreciative of the extra planning time.