Schools

District 15 Parents Demonstrate Support For Early Release

After months of public debate, an arbitrator hearing Thursday will decide if students leave school early Fridays or start late during the week, so teachers may have development time.

Dozens of District 15 parents stood in front of the Joseph M. Kostka Educational Service Center, 580 N. 1st Bank Drive Thursday morning, demonstrating their support for early release Fridays so teachers may have development time.

An arbitration hearing was scheduled to begin at 8:30 a.m. to decide if school district will start late one day a week, possibly a Monday or Wednesday, or let out early on Fridays.

"Parents want early release. I went out in my neighborhood in January in below zero temperatures and everyone supports this. I don't know why the Classroom Teachers' Council (CTC) continues to fight us, and what is best for children and families," said D15 parent Alyssa Booko who was out holding her sign starting at 8 a.m.

"There are parents that work and cannot reschedule or get babysitters before the school day starts," said D15 parent Lou Hatrovics, who also held a sign supporting early release. "Early release would have the least impact on children and families."

Lisa Szczupaj, also a D15 parent, has led efforts to support early release Fridays. She said the number of parents who showed up in front of the educational center Thursday is dwarfed by the amount of support overall.

"This time of year, many parents are on vacation, or out of town but wanted to be here supporting us," Sczcupaj said.

"There is a collective level of disgust from parents regarding the time, money and effort wasted on fighting early release by the CTC," Sczcuaj said.

"This is just plain shameful," she said.

The arbitrator will be deciding, in part, if there is indeed an "overwhelming majority" of parents who prefer early release over late start, which would allow early release to be implemented, based on the contract verbiage between District 15 and the CTC. 

The decision is expected by late September and would be implemented by January 2014.


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