FRIDAY, MARCH 10, 2017
THE BAKER COUNTY PRESS — 5
Local
Teachers, parents push back
against 5-day school week idea
BY SAMANTHA
O’CONNER
Samantha@TheBakerCountyPress.com
Teachers and parents
in support of the four-day
school weeks are pushing
back against the proposed
five-day school week with
a shortened school day.
The group has been
working for a few weeks,
gathering information to
present to the school board.
According Coby Ma-
strude, a member of the
group and a mother, Andi
Jaca told her and other
members of the group
that Superintendent Mark
Witty was working to push
the five-day school week
through. Recently, a small
group of parents had sub-
mitted a petition support-
ing that idea.
“It appeared that the
school board and Witty
were going to take some
action on it,” explained
Mastrude. “And so then we
just felt that there are a lot
of us who like it how it is.
So we started researching
and asking more people
and it just kind of grew—
the movement grew.”
Mastrude explained that
she and other members
found research done on
rural Colorado school
districts.
She explained that it
tends to be rural schools
in Western states that have
this situation, stating that
most school districts go to
four day weeks for the cost
effectiveness.
“There is research out
there, if you look on the
internet, that says that
these four day weeks actu-
ally academically benefit
kids,” explained Mastrude.
“Math scores go up signifi-
cantly, they say language
arts maintains—they did
say that there is a slight
improvement but not statis-
tically significant enough
to claim it.
“But there is no reduc-
tion in test scores because
of being in four days
versus five. And it leads
to less absenteeism by
students by teachers, by
other staff members; it
tends to correlate with
higher morale in students
and teachers.
“Teachers have men-
tioned that their students
are engaged more, it really
seems to work for families.
It certainly works for my
family; it certainly works
for my friend’s family.
“I definitely think the
majority of people that I
know are in favor of the
four-day week and keep-
ing it as it is. I do know a
couple people who would
prefer a five day week and
they have their reasons, but
our group finds that this
benefits our kids and our
families the most to leave
it as it is.”
Mastrude explained that
teachers agree with their
findings. She explained
that her group does not
understand why they are
trying to change the school
days.
The group planned to
present their findings at
the school board meeting
March 9th and they en-
couraged as many families
who supported the continu-
ing four day school week
to be there. They planned
to have a few people speak
about why they felt it
should stay the same.
“We’re just trying to
make our numbers heard,”
Mastrude explained. “We
honestly feel like we are in
the majority when it comes
to this decision. And that’s
really all we can do is just
try and make as big a pres-
ence for them to see our
numbers.”
Mastrude explained that
many of her fellow group
members were gathering
signatures for the presenta-
tion. She estimated around
200 signatures at the most
for the presentation.
The information they
found was conducted by
Mary Beth Walker from
Georgia State Univer-
sity. She is the one who
researched comparisons
between four and five day
school weeks. Mastrude
explained that Walker’s
research stated that they
did not expect to find that
four days worked better for
kids but they do.
“The only benefit to a
five-day school week that
I can come up with is that
there are kids that get fed
probably a more nutri-
tious meal on Friday at the
schools for breakfast and
lunch than if they weren’t
at school,” said Mastrude.
“There is going to be that
pocket population in every
school district, that’s the
case, but I cannot think of
any other reason why it
would be beneficial to go
back to school on Fridays.
A half day, which they
are proposing, is in the
Middle School and the
High School level—you’re
taking classes that are an
hour long and cutting them
down to 20 minutes. Go
back to when you were in
high school; what can you
get done in 20 minutes in a
class? You’re not going to
learn a lesson. You might
be able to use it as a study
hour or like a home room,
but it’s basically a waste of
a day.”
Mastrude praised the
Friday Academy, explain-
ing that the courses offered
helped students and 5J
should expand it.
Farmers Market
needs volunteers
The Baker City Farmers Market Board of Directors is
currently seeking volunteers to fill two board positions. If
you have an interest in joining the board team in promot-
ing and growing our community Farmers Market, please
contact Amy Young for more information, at 541.519
7281.
Fire Marshal
urges fire alarm
testing during
clock changing
Sunday, March 12 marks the beginning of daylight sav-
ing time and serves as a good reminder for Oregonians to
test their smoke alarms. The Oregon Office of State Fire
Marshal is urging residents to test their smoke alarms
before automatically changing the batteries.
“Smoke alarm technology has advanced and many
now come with 10-year batteries and some are tamper-
resistant,” said State Fire Marshal Jim Walker. “So, I
encourage residents to test their alarms before changing
the battery.”
Oregon law requires ionization-only smoke alarms that
are solely battery powered to come equipped with a hush
feature and a 10-year battery. Because of this technology,
the national slogan “Change your clock, Change your bat-
tery” may not apply to Oregon residents who have these
ionization-only smoke alarms.
Other types of alarms are also being sold with either a
10-year battery or a standard-life battery.
“Ensuring you have working smoke alarms in your
home is the single most important step you can take to
increase your family’s safety from a home fire,” adds
Walker. “Also, be sure to replace any smoke alarm that is
10 years old or older.”
To test your alarm properly we recommend you:
1)Push the test button to be sure the battery is working.
2)When replacing batteries, follow the manufacturer’s
instructions for the correct battery type to use.
3)Always retest alarms after installing new batteries.
4)Replace any alarm that fails to operate after installing
a new battery.
5)Inspect your alarms to determine if they are 10 years
old or older, and replace any smoke alarm
10 years old or older. Look for a date on the back of the
alarm. If there is no date, your alarm is more than 10
years old and should be replaced.
6)Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for regularly
cleaning your alarms of dust and cobwebs.
Working smoke alarms provide a critical early warn-
ing to a fire, allowing you vital minutes to escape, which
increase your chances of survival. Additional safety tips:
• Install smoke alarms on every level of your home, in
each bedroom, and outside each sleeping area (hallway).
• Never disconnect or remove batteries from smoke
alarms for other uses.
• Use the smoke alarm’s hush feature to silence nui-
sance alarms.
• Make a home fire escape plan and practice it with
family members.
• Practice you home fire escape plan at least two times a
year at different times of the day/night.
• Children, older adults, and people with disabilities
may need assistance to wake up and get out. Ensure that
someone will help them.
For more home fire escape planning information visit:
http://www.oregon.gov/osp/SFM/Pages/escapeplan.aspx
For more smoke alarm and fire safety information, con-
tact your local fire department or visit
http://www.oregon.gov/osp/SFM/Pages/CommEd_SA_
Program.aspx
Follow the OSFM on Facebook https://www.facebook.
com/OregonStateFireMarshal and Twitter @OSFM.
Funding site up
for dog park
Baker City citizens and the Baker City Park & Rec
volunteer board, are working towards funding a dog park.
The City has approved property to use for this purpose
near the Sam-O swim center. Any money raised for the
dog park will be used to purchase fencing materials and
other equipment needed to operate and maintain the park.
Writes Gail Duman via email, “I wanted to update you
and let you know that our GoGetFunding account is up
and running. This means that anyone can make a dona-
tion to our dog park. This is the link: https://gogetfund-
ing.com/baker-city-dog-park/ to reach our site. Please
share this with all your friends and dog lovers.”
Quilt show ahead
July 14th and 15th are the dates set for 2017’s quilt
show, again to be held at 2020 Church.
The theme is "Quilting on the Oregon Trail" and the
show will again feature bed turnings.
With local participation, this is sure to be another great
show. There will be no judging of the quilts again this
year. Snow days = more quilts!