Quote Originally Posted by LarryG View Post
Talking to my son, he said it was OK with him, talking to my grand daughter , she hates it! But would it save us money? I dont care either way,but the added hours, will give the kids another day off, so the parents that use school as a baby sitter, will need to dseal with it. Wonder how many extra events will now be scheduled for that day off, where school buses will be needed, is that a catch 22?
After school trips, especially sports (excluding the two biggies b-ball and football which can exist on booster monies) have been cut tremedously in terms of travel funds. Each sport once had schedule give to them of conference play that they were required to participate, then the coaches would add another few non-conference "experience building" games in. Those have all but been eliminated - unless parents provide the transportation as they do with some of the smaller sports here; soccer, swimming, softball, even baseball to an extent. It is far more difficult to request transportation than it was 8 years ago when I started. Back then you turned a form in - as long as it was school related and your principal ok'ed it that was it. Now there is a huge process involved with it, that it is much easier to pursue alternate resources.

All of this is not a result of higher gas prices. The current state legislation shredded the proposed educational budget. They are allowing far below the suggested, and even reccomended budget ammount in all deminsions of public education. Districts are now being required to be much more innovative and creative to stretch a very tight budget and maintain a high quality of education. Public education has reached almost crisis level in terms of financially being able to support the programs that ensure success, or even programs that the federal government mandates.