APPLETON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – The Appleton Area School District says its elementary schools’ schedules could change in the next couple of years.
While academic requirements are an important part of a school day, the district says learning must go beyond that.
Assistant superintendent Nan Bunnow telling FOX 11…..
“Not only do we have academics but we also have the social, emotional learning. We have the fine arts, we have physical education and all the other things that come into making an elementary school an elementary school.”
Elementary School days within the district are currently around seven hours with time set aside for lunch and recess.
Bunnow says the traditional schedule is so compact, it’s difficult to meet the needs of all students.
“Just a lot of additional time needed for students, that are gifted and need additional support that way, or students that need an additional boost.”
Bunnow said the district will start a research project within the next month to try up come up with a schedule that best fits the needs of its students.
She says that could include extending the school day, or adding days onto the year.
“Really we haven’t taken anything off the table; we really want to look at everything and see how it fits us in Appleton, so we certainly have not closed any doors.”
The research project will also include feedback from parents. FOX 11 spoke with some parents about what they would hope to see.
Jerry Noto said, “They’ll play around in recess but there’s nothing really being taught about staying active, it’s all video games now, so if they would push that that would make a big change, I think it would teach the kids a lot.”
Malyssa Square said, “I just think it’d be more helpful if they taught right from wrong lessons even starting in first grade because some kids don’t learn life lessons at home.”
No decisions will be made until the research results are returned.
The Study Group will review initial findings in April to determine if any possible pilots should occur in 2018-19.
The only changes that may be tested in 2018-19 would occur as small, limited pilots in collaboration with both staff and parents.
