Cedar Rapids schools to adjust for Wednesday early dismissals

The students at Harding Middle School in Cedar Rapids are only in session this week before finally getting out for the summer.

Yet, starting on September 18, for the 2010-2011 school year, students will be getting out two hours early nearly every other Wednesday.

“We did spend a lot of time on the Wednesday notion of getting out at 12:30,” said Harding principal Randy Krejci. “Wednesday was chosen at the high school level, and also at the middle school level, because of all the activities. That had a lot to do with Wednesday being chosen over the other days of the week.”

The Cedar Rapids Community School District's website lists a total of 13 early dismissal days falling on Wednesday along with one Friday date in April. This differs from the current school year, with the website calendar noting a total of eight early dismissal days, all on Monday or Friday.

Another difference is class will get out later for the 2010-2011 early dismissal days. Middle and high schools will dismiss at 12:30, compared with 11:15 for this year. The final bell will ring in elementary schools at 1:30 instead of 12:15. Wilson and Grant Elementary will dismiss at the earlier time of 12:30.

Laurel Day, who serves as the Calendar Committee chairwoman with the district, said placing the early dismissal days on Wednesday allows more of the district's staff to attend what they call “professional learning communities” to try and improve their classroom instruction.

Day also pointed to the district's tradition of leaving Wednesday nights open for non-school events and said that should improve safety.

“When we send our students home, they also don't have to come back, so we are looking at student safety,” said Day.

Mary Minges, program coordinator at the Four Oaks Bridge on First Avenue in Cedar Rapids, said their after school program serves about 65 students from kindergarten through sixth grade. Now with most elementary students getting out at 1:30 on these Wednesdays, she said her staff will have to adjust.

“Actually, it will be helpful because it is consistent,” Minges said. “We always have had to keep checking, ‘which Friday is it again?' “.

Krejci said the shorter Wednesdays, at least at Harding, will offer the chance for students to attend all classes.

“Most of (the schools) will have every class meet,” said Krejci. “Granted, it will be a shorter period of time but they will have the opportunity, even for a 20- or 30-minute class period.