Get on the Bus

By Robyn

August 9, 2007 10:47 AM | Link to this

As a Dayton native I always remembered starting school after Labor Day. I now live in Atlanta and we started school last week if you think it’s hot in Dayton come down to Atlanta and see how HOT it really is. I’m all for going back after Labor Day.

By null

August 8, 2007 10:42 PM | Link to this

Now as a dps teacher I actually am ready to go back early August and enjoy the extra time off throught the year instead of it all at once.

By Lori

August 8, 2007 3:40 PM | Link to this

I am also a DPS teacher. I agree completely with Laura’s comments.

By teacher

August 8, 2007 3:21 PM | Link to this

The parent with the 2 boys in the schools has the right idea. I have been saying for a long time that the administrators need to turn off their air conditioners and feel what the students and teachers have been going through for several years now. Why do the administrators deserve to be in AC while the students who supposedly come first and the teachers who educate them don’t get AC? The heat that we have been having this week is extreme, but even before that when we had 80’s outside it is miserable in a hot classroom with lots of people. The administrators would not survive those temperatures either. Therefore, start school after Labor Day when at least there is a shorter time to endure the heat. I can’t believe more parents haven’t complained about their children being in these conditions. I would have.

By Laura

August 8, 2007 11:08 AM | Link to this

DPS teacher, as another DPS teacher, I have to disagree about the time off in October. I’d much rather go to school through October than have to put up with the heat in August. I realize those of you who started the year-round schools went in July, but that was your choice. We have no choice now. You are correct that we only start 2-3 weeks ahead of other nearby districts but I think they are even jumping the gun. We are obviously going longer than in the past because when I was in school, we didn’t start until after Labor Day and ended in early June. I know this because my brother’s birthday is often on Labor Day and my birthday is in June. He had to go to school on his birthday sometimes, but I never did. As much as I still like not working on my birthday (I’ll never grow up) I’d rather start in Sept and go later in June. I don’t think we accomplish anything in these hot classrooms.

By David

August 8, 2007 9:27 AM | Link to this

Now we don’t really want this mayor running down the schools like she and her cronies do to the city, do we? Maybe she can reduce the police force and install more red light cameras to make the city safer? I know, put red light cameras at all the streets and intersections around the schools; they even have stop sign cameras now. Mayor could use all that money to pass out to friends instead of actually making the hard choices to improve the city and make the streets safer—like police cars actually driving around getting dangerous and aggressive drivers and junk cars, along with the druggies and drunks, off the streets.

By MT (concerned parent)

August 7, 2007 10:24 PM | Link to this

I sympathize with the efforts of DPS in putting a brave face on a situation beyond their control (weather). Financial mis-management notwithstanding, there should now be an effort to be pro-active and give some degree of certainty to kids (and parents) in the light of the forecast. Whatever gains would have been made educationally this week are certainly lost. As parents, we don’t need to hang on the daily utterance of “school officials” as to whether or not school is in session for coming days or not. Most of us have jobs that don’t allow for last minute or unforeseen changes to schedules. Not to mention the need to secure reliable care should the need arise. Cancel for the remainder of the week, use the time to come up with a viable solution in the near and not so near future. Consideration of a revision of the school calendar may also be wise. Just think of the money that could have been save by perhaps starting even 1 week later, dare I say three? I bet the cost savings could have saved the job of a teacher or twenty, or that of an enrichment program that our children could no doubt have benifitted from. Sorry to be despondent, but I think I may be thinking thoughts that for many of us may have been left un-uttered.

By MT (concerned parent)

August 7, 2007 10:22 PM | Link to this

I sympathize with the efforts of DPS in putting a brave face on a situation beyond their control (weather). Financial mis-management notwithstanding, there should now be an effort to be pro-active and give some degree of certainty to kids (and parents) in the light of the forecast. Whatever gains would have been made educationally this week are certainly lost. As parents, we don’t need to hang on the daily utterance of “school officials” as to whether or not school is in session for coming days or not. Most of us have jobs that don’t allow for last minute or unforeseen changes to schedules. Not to mention the need to secure reliable care should the need arise. Cancel for the remainder of the week, use the time to come up with a viable solution in the near and not so near future. Consideration of a revision of the school calendar may also be wise. Just think of the money that could have been save by perhaps starting even 1 week later, dare I say three? I bet the cost savings could have saved the job of a teacher or twenty, or that of an enrichment program that our children could no doubt have benifitted from. Sorry to be despondent, but I think I may be uttering words that for many of us may have been left unsaid.

By null

August 7, 2007 9:37 PM | Link to this

Why doesn’t our gung-ho mayor fork out some cash and buy AC units for the schools?

By dps teacher

August 7, 2007 9:21 PM | Link to this

Come on, folks, for the last 2 days I’ve read how DPS has dropped the ball by starting school early but we only start 3 weeks before surrounding school districts. I have taught in a year round school in DPS (both traditional and modified) and this is the first time in a long time that the schools have been closed because of heat. Most of the “traditional” year-old schools (the first year-round” schools) were not air-conditioned and we started in the middle of July. It’s an unusual situation and it is unfortunate not every school is equipped for the heat. If in 4 years, the same thing happens, we’d be in school because all of the schools will be air conditioned. I don’t know many teachers and students that don’t enjoy their extra time off in October and in the spring.

By parent

August 7, 2007 9:20 PM | Link to this

I have 2 boys in DPS and unlike the school board my children do come first and they will be out the rest of the week. Has the board not heard the EXPERTS that warn people to stay in AC. I think the board should willing put their offices into the school rooms without AC and see how long they could servive Are they going to pay the bills of the children who are overcome by the heat I will remember this for the next levy.

By null

August 7, 2007 7:58 PM | Link to this

I agree with one of the above comments that school should not start until after Labor Day. It is entirely too hot to be in school now. When it is in the 80’s outside those buildings are even stifling, especially when you put a lot of kids in the rooms. Even when the buildings get air conditioning in the future, schools should still open after Labor Day to save money. Here DPS has such a money problem, but it doesn’t phase them to spend money on air conditioning for the new buildings and the administrative offices. If DPS started after Labor Day there would only be a need for air conditioning for maybe a few weeks in the fall and a few weeks in the spring. That would be a lot of money saved.

By Scott Elliott

August 7, 2007 7:28 PM | Link to this

If I had to bet right now, I’d wager that DPS will ultimately cancel school for the rest of the week.

By null

August 7, 2007 7:16 PM | Link to this

This is another good reason why school should begin after Labor Day. It is entirely too hot to be in school. I am becoming increasingly disappointed in the Dayton Public Schools. I have tried to support them over the years and currently have three children in school but this is too much.

By a mom

August 7, 2007 6:09 PM | Link to this

Wow,could have told you that yesterday. And guess what? Thursday is going to be just as hot and humid. Unbelievable. Just close for the rest of the week and hope that the temperatures drop by next Monday.

By Phyllis Newberry

August 7, 2007 5:45 PM | Link to this

I sympathize with Dayton regarding the high temperatures. I live in Arizona where the temperatures go even higher but with no humidity, it is barable. I’m a Dayton native so 100 and over is just too much. Thanks for thinking of the children.

By elizabeth

August 7, 2007 5:22 PM | Link to this

Do you think that they will also cancel school on thursday,or even Friday due to the heat?