ST. JOSEPH COUNTY — A a new statewide policy intended to give students more class time isn't getting an A+ from some school administrators. Indiana Superintendent of Public Instruction Dr. Tony Bennett is mandating students to be in the classroom 180 full days each school year. Half days will no longer count toward that total.

Also, schools have to make up all snow days if they're not built into the school year. In the past, the schools have been able to sign a waiver to avoid financial penalty from the Department of Education for not making up snow days.

Most school administrators agree students should be in the classroom as long as possible. But they also say it shouldn't come at the cost of parent involvement or continuing education for teachers.

"For every day missed of school, a day will be made up," Bennett said Tuesday.

Penn Harris Madison Superintendent Dr. Jerry Thacker told WSBT he does not like most of Bennett's plan.

"If we had a blizzard like we did in '78, we would be having an extended school year which would go well into the summer," said Thacker.

But Thacker's main concern is the half school days that won't count. PHM elementary schools use five half days each year for parent teacher conferences. The middle schools use three. But next year, that won't happen.

"I really, really am disappointed the parents and teachers will not have these opportunities to partner," Thacker told WSBT. That's one of the most important things we can have in our school systems across America.

It's not clear how PHM will handle the conferences in the future, but the new policy from the state says they must happen outside the 180-day requirement.

Right now, PHM teachers use four half days each year to brush up on their own skills. But with the new policy, those too would disappear.

Thacker said figuring out how to make up for that professional development is going to be "a real challenge" in order for teachers to continue to grow the way the district would like.

He said the 180-day rule also means mapping out new contracts for teachers and bus drivers. All the corporation's contracts, he said, stipulate the number of days and hours worked.

But for parents, the new policy doesn't seem so bad.

"I do think it's important for them to get their education," said PHM parent Linda Kolmodin. "I grew up in Michigan and we always had to go 181 days."

"Education's number one," said Randy Burns. "If it takes a little longer, go for it. I believe in that."

Bennett said the reason for the policy change is to help students be prepared for a 21st century economy by making sure students are competitive.

WSBT spoke with several other area superintendents Wednesday who said they are also upset with the changes for the same reasons as Dr. Thacker.

In fact, the superintendent in Goshen said before this, he was actually considering a schedule change to add more half days for teacher education next year, but now he won't be able to do that.