These 4-5 teachers share the same 180 students during the day. We wanted students to feel more connected to their teachers and to the school. Teachers wanted to meet regularly to discuss students' needs. Chairpersons Carolyn Pendergrass and Brian Bridges met with the committee to confirm the need for planning time, read elevant research, and visit schools who are using time creatively. Once a week, school begins 90 minutes later, but teachers meet in their teams to review the week's lessons, find cross-curricular connections, plan interdisciplinary units, and review student work.
Team leaders keep a binder of team notes, lessons, and student artifacts to demonstrate their work.
The Time Committee reviewed its recommendation with faculty, with School Site Council members and with parents at a special evening presentation. We then held pilot minimum dayhs in March and May, 1994. In spetember 1994, we brought our findings and recommendations to the school baord. As a result, we will have 11 planning days this school year , usually on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of the Month.