LCUSD: Please restore lost instructional days

In January, Superintendent Wendy Sinnette and the LCUSD Governing Board moved to request that the state of California give the LCUSD the revenue it lost due to the two “wind days” that closed the LCUSD schools in December 2011. Given the shortfalls facing the LCUSD, no one can argue against this decision. However, despite the fact that the teachers of the LCUSD have been paid for the two “wind days,” no mention has been made of actually restoring these two lost instructional days to the ultimate losers in this situation: the parents and students of the LCUSD.

As most parents in the LCUSD know, after the four teacher collaboration days were taken from the LCUSD school year, the actual instructional days for the students of the LCUSD fell to 176. Few are aware, but the LCUSD has given the teachers of the LCUSD two additional .5 pupil-free days: (1) Back To School Night and (2) The Last Day of School. At this point, the minimum number of instructional school days required by the state of California is 175. With the loss of the two “wind days” the LCUSD now has two less school days than the minimum number of instructional days required by the state.

If you believe it is important that our children have the two instructional days lost to “wind” restored such that they may receive the minimum number of instructional days required by the state of California, please join me at the LCUSD Governing Board Meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 7, at 7 p.m. at the Board of Education District Offices, 4490 Cornishon Ave., or email the members of the Governing Board of the LCUSD and tell them to please restore the two lost instructional days to the students of the LCUSD.

Brooke A. Wharton

La Canada Flintridge