Update: Our Voices Were Heard!
Our voices were heard! Thank you to those who signed our petition!
The Board of Education took our petition seriously, and is not pushing through changing the bus times as stated originally. There is still the potential of a 10 minute time change later for the Tier III Bus schools, and 10 minutes earlier for Tier I Bus schools. Our petition was quoted in the New Haven Independent on Wednesday, April 6.
The Board of Education is holding another meeting, April 11, 2016. The Board of Education will be voting on the budget tomorrow.
The Board of Education took our petition seriously, and is not pushing through changing the bus times as stated originally. There is still the potential of a 10 minute time change later for the Tier III Bus schools, and 10 minutes earlier for Tier I Bus schools. Our petition was quoted in the New Haven Independent on Wednesday, April 6.
The Board of Education is holding another meeting, April 11, 2016. The Board of Education will be voting on the budget tomorrow.
Board of Education Meeting: Monday, April 11, 2016
Beecher School Cafetorium, 100 Jewell St., New Haven, CT
Beecher School Cafetorium, 100 Jewell St., New Haven, CT
Dear Mauro-Sheridan Parents and Staff,
In March, our administration was informed of a proposed money-saving effort by the New Haven Board of Education that has the potential to change our school start and end time. Our school, and other third tier busing schools, currently begin at 9:15 am, and dismiss at 3:30 pm. This change will open our school at 9:35 am and dismiss at 3:50 pm.
The New Haven Register and the New Haven Independent both covered the March 14, 2016 Board of Education meeting at which many parents and teachers spoke against this proposal.
The New Haven Register and the New Haven Independent both covered the March 14, 2016 Board of Education meeting at which many parents and teachers spoke against this proposal.
Quoted from the New Haven Independent article,
“New Haven schools are divided into bus-service tiers depending on their start time. Tier I starts the earliest, at around 7:30 a.m. Tier III starts the latest, at around 9:15 a.m. De La Paz’s plan would push Tier III schools 20 minutes later, to begin at 9:35 a.m. instead.
The Tier III schools affected are primarily magnet schools: Barnard, Beecher, Brennan/Rogers, Conte/West, Davis, Hill Central, Jepson, Betsy/Ross, King/Robinson, West Rock, Ross/Woodward, Mauro-Sheridan and Polly McCabe.”
The Problem:
- A 9:35 am start time means that parents will have trouble balancing getting their children to school and working jobs. In a world where most families have two working parents, or have single parents, a later start time will mean that there will be a need for before-school programming.
- A 9:35 am start time means a 3:50 pm dismissal time. This later time will mean that school bus drop off will be later. Children who currently get dropped off sometimes as late as 5 pm will be dropped off by 5:30 pm or even 6 pm.
- Later dismissal will effect after school programs. Families will have trouble getting children to after school programs in a timely manner, and after school clubs will have less time. Children won’t have time to complete homework and participate in other activities.
What You Can Do To Help
Attend the next Board of Education Meeting (BOE)
There is strength in numbers. Come to the next BOE meeting and voice your concerns.
When: Mon, March 28, 5:30pm
Where: Beecher School Cafetorium, 100 Jewell St., New Haven, CT
When: Mon, March 28, 5:30pm
Where: Beecher School Cafetorium, 100 Jewell St., New Haven, CT
Sign our Online Petition
If coming to a BOE Meeting isn’t your thing, or you have a prior engagement, you can still make your voice heard! Sign our online petition, and we will have a representative present the result at the BOE meeting on March 28.
The MASH PTO would like to invite the PTO and parents from the other affected schools to sign our petition or create their own to bring to the meeting on March 28.
The MASH PTO would like to invite the PTO and parents from the other affected schools to sign our petition or create their own to bring to the meeting on March 28.
Spread the Word
Our voices can make a difference. We agree that our children’s education is important, and that balancing a budget is important. This proposal will challenge the ability of families to help their children succeed at school due to scheduling difficulties.
Tell the parents, teachers and staff you know to sign our petition, sign one of your own, or to show up at the March 28 Board of Ed Meeting
Thank you for your concern!
Mauro-Sheridan PTO
Email us: mashmagnet@gmail.com
Visit our website: www. mashpto.weebly.com
Tell the parents, teachers and staff you know to sign our petition, sign one of your own, or to show up at the March 28 Board of Ed Meeting
Thank you for your concern!
Mauro-Sheridan PTO
Email us: mashmagnet@gmail.com
Visit our website: www. mashpto.weebly.com