-Press Release, Vance County Schools
After meeting with the officers and representatives of the Vance County Association of Educators and reviewing staff request leave data, Superintendent Anthony Jackson will recommend to the Board of Education on Monday evening that Vance County Schools convert Wednesday, May 16, to a student holiday and an optional teacher workday.
A majority of the Board of Education has indicated their support of the request and plans to approve the superintendent’s recommendation at their meeting on Monday evening.
The recommendation and expected board decision are the result of a planned teacher advocacy rally that is scheduled for May 16 in Raleigh. The event, sponsored by the North Carolina Association of Educators, is expected to draw thousands of educators from across the state.
The current request from Vance County Schools’ staff exceeds the district’s ability to provide coverage with available substitutes.
The administration is making this recommendation to support our teachers’ desire to advocate for better pay and benefits while balancing it with the needs of our schools and students.
The recommendation to the board will be to:
- Designate May 16 as an optional teacher workday
- High school Advanced Placement testing continues as planned
- The “Honoring Academic Success” banquet to recognize the top 10 percent of the Class of 2018 graduates will be held as planned on May 16, at 6:30 p.m. in McGregor Hall in Henderson and students should report to McGregor Hall as directed by their teachers and counselors
- To recapture the lost instructional time, all schools will add 15 minutes to the instructional day from May 29 – June 8
This schedule will allow the school system to maintain the current exam and commencement schedules.
“I strongly believe that this recommendation is in the best interest of our schools and the best path for us at this time,” Jackson said. “The lack of available substitutes to cover our anticipated absences could potentially place us at-risk next Wednesday if we remain open. We will be stretched to provide the necessary supervision and standard of care our parents expect. This recommendation, while not perfect, will allow us to support both teachers and students.”