ST. JOSEPH COUNTY — It's almost the end of the school year, and some school leaders are scrambling to figure out their calendars for next year. The state school superintendent unveiled a plan a few months ago to mandate students to be in the classroom 180 full days each school year.

The new policy hasn’t even taken effect yet, and it’s really frustrating school administrators and parents.

The schools have been forced to re-work calendars. The calendars that are out for next school year show no teacher in-services or parent teacher conferences.

The 2008-2009 school year is winding down for most Indiana students.
But parents, teachers and administrators are already looking ahead to next year.

“It’s hard to plan different events coming up and what weekends we can get away,” said Penn Harris Madison parent and teacher’s aide Tresur Pritz.

“We just moved into this area, so not having the calendar [for next year] is a little awkward,” said another parent, Katie Amos.

Many Indiana superintendents have said they don't like the new 180-day rule — mandating students across the state be in the classroom 180 full days. Half days don't count, and all snow days must be made up.

“All the research is very clear,” said P-H-M Superintendent Dr. Jerry Thacker, “that students are more successful when their parents are involved. So parent teacher conferences are absolutely vital.”

But some new schedules don’t allow time for those conferences that used to happen on half days.

“We’re scratching our heads right now trying to figure out just what to do,” said South Bend Community School Corp. Superintendent Jim Kapsa.

Other days missing from next year's calendar are PBA days or teacher in-services. Those half days are used for teachers to brush up on their own skills. But with the new 180-day rule and teacher contracts, schools districts aren't sure how that will happen.

“It’s extremely hard to put new initiatives in place without ongoing staff development,” said Thacker. “Every year there's a new textbook adoption — it could be in mathematics. Along with that comes staff development.”

Districts are still feeling out their options for that.

“One opportunity is that we provide a series of substitute teachers that go into a building and teachers are released from their classrooms an hour-and-a-half [for the training],” said Kapsa.

They’re also hoping another, better solution is on the way.

“Clearly the best option for the state superintendent is to re-visit this,” said Thacker.

South Bend's school calendar for next year is out already. Penn Harris Madison's is not. P-H-M Superintendent Thacker told WSBT he's waiting until the end of the state legislature's special session to release the final calendar, in case there are any legislative changes that may help with the schedule change. That session must happen by June 30.