COUNTY LIFE
Forestburg, Saint Jo adopt hybrid form of four-day school week
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By BARBARA GREEN
[email protected]
Forestburg and Saint Jo Independent School District Board of Trustees both approved a hybrid or blended four-day school week schedule last week, joining other county districts that are making the change in the next year or already using the plan.
Forestburg Superintendent Jason Briles said it has been a long process that began back in January when he offered the board a traditional schedule and a hybrid four-day schedule. Trustees wanted to get community input so the administrators initiated a survey and a public meeting.
During the forum, the survey results with 67 responses showed they preferred the four-day and 27 preferred the traditional. When it was sent to just student parents, 48 prefer four-day and 23 preferred traditional.
The state mandates districts have a calendar with at least 75,600 minutes and the new calendar is 765 minutes below that. Principal Trey Cumby explained they have “front-loaded” the calendar for core subjects with students at school more from August to mid-February when the Friday off schedule begins. They also made an effort to avoid making the school day longer.
Saint Jo ISD adopted a hybrid/blended calendar last week where the district will operate with a five-day week until spring break and then go to four days a week with Friday off.
The district improvement team and administration recommended a hybrid model they feel “is the best fit” for the district. Superintendent Katie Morman said the initial feedback was not in full support of four-day.
As they talked to other schools they did not find a lot of academic impact data. Morman added there were concerns about the district’s high extra-curricular participation and how it could be impacted. All those factors led to the blended calendar as they gather their own data.
Read the full story in the mid-week Bowie News.
COUNTY LIFE
It’s here the 2024 Montague County Guide
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Inside your weekend Bowie News find the award-winning visitor’s and newcomer’s guide. There are unique features about this area along with all the resources you may need to set up housekeeping or explore something new.
COUNTY LIFE
Summer Olympics this week’s summer reading theme
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Bowie Public Library’s Summer Reading program continues on July 16 with the Olympics.
It will be all about the upcoming Summer Olympics with outdoor games at the soccer field. Summer reading wraps up with the popular Creature Teacher on July 23 who brings lots of animals to the kids to see up close.
Any questions about summer reading can be directed to the library staff by calling 872-2681 or follow their Facebook page.
Summer reading is open to children ages 0-12. Keep a summer reading log and earn a book.
Top photo – This past Tuesday, the library staff visits with Smokey the Bear and a member of the Forest Service at summer reading. (Photo by Barbara Green)
COUNTY LIFE
Space adventures coming to Nocona Library
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Nocona Library’s Summer Reading program continues at 10 a.m. on July 17 at the Justin Building at 100 Clay Street.
The program will be space adventures and include a demonstration of a drone. Make plans to attend.
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