Good letter, let this guy run for mayor!! Full sentences, clear, concise, shows empathy. Now, Dr. C - can you just get rid of tenure, cut the bureacracy in half and drop teacher salary by 3-10% for next 3-5 years so that their above average inflation bumps can catch up with the lack of inflation.

Apologize? Hardly! You are fabulous, Dr. Crisfield. Thoughtful plan filled with common sense!

Thank you.

Great solution!!! Not easy to please everyone but I am sure we will all cooperate on this difficult time.

I disagree there should be no school for all the schools. I am hesitant about sending my kids to school because of the safety issues. I think he is a an okay superintendent and has to take the initiative to keep our kids safe.

John - when you say "I disagree there should be no school for all the schools." are you saying that you agree there should be school for some of the schools - in other words, you agree with him. you aren't clear above. if you are hesitant to send your kids to school, then don't send them and keep them home and home school 'em. that is what he recommends above.

Absolute idiocy. I understand trying to do what is best but this piecemeal solution just to save a few skiing days in April is absurd. The whole district should either be open or closed. Period. And the kids should have to go out to the main roads to get buses? That is a safe solution when the administration acknowledges that the roads remain dangerous? Who wants to bet how many people post on Patch tomorrow how the buses never came to pick up their kids? This town is a complete joke.

You can please some of the people......

Hedley--I hardly think the folks who want their kids to resume schools are sweating out their vacation days. Honestly. A lot of the young moms I spoke with today had logistical issues to work out with child care and that was driving their desire to go back. My friends with teenagers had other concerns--mainly keeping their teens *safely* and *productively* occupied. If the schools are functional, exactly why should everyone in the district be penalized because of two exceptions? I guess I don't get what you are so mad about..... Are you just worried about the main roads? That, I can see, is a concern.

I have friends who live in Hartshorn and have teens and for some, sending their middle schoolers in will be a hardship. The beauty of Dr. C's plan is if they cannot go, it will not count against them. For those who do go, the additional instruction time will be good. I see nothing wrong with his plan?

As for the buses coming to pick up their kids--I see tomorrow's bus service functioning more like a shuttle. I think too, that as neighbors, we can all chip in and car pool and make use of the "shuttles" as it makes sense.

Anyway--i think it's a wonderful plan under very difficult circumstances. I am just not sure what is "idiotic" about it.

I am relieved that there is effort being made to get the schools opened, but it is certainly by no means a perfect solution; nothing is. This is not about saving skiing days in April. Please get off that idea that this is why we are all trying to get everyone back to school. It's only November 2nd and we have a long way to go with no snow days in reserve. I for one am grateful for the effort to get the kids back to class, especially with two days off again next week that cannot be changed. I am concerned that there isn't much clarity about the buses. When other districts have done modified busing, specific locations are designated for bus stops; a clearer way of ensuring the kids know where to go and the drivers aren't stopping every five feet.

...yeah, the busing piece could use more clarification, I can't argue with that.

If there is school during the April vacation my daughter will not be there. If there is school on a Saturday she will be.

But here is an idea - in the spirit of cooperation in a difficult time maybe the teachers should offer to give up their two convention days (which most of them do not go to anyway) next week and open schools those days.

I think the plan is a good plan under the circumstances.

Thought I would add another idea into the mix: instead of the Saturday classes, how about the school extend 2 single session days at the end of the school year to full days for the Glenwood and Hartshorn students.

Dr. Crisfield has yet again showed himself to be a thoughtful, sensible, and considerate leader. He has dealt with some really difficult issues during his brief tenure as our Superintendent and I am so impressed with him. Not only should he run for Mayor, I may be tempted to write him in for President in 2012.

The schools should all be open or all be closed. This is ridiculous. This is going to cause a major issue once the time comes to make up the school days on a saturday.

Oh baloney. People will attend Saturday classes to the extent they can and the novelty of it alone will make it worthwhile.

If it is such a novelty then all the more reason to close ALL the schools for the next 2 days and send them all to Saturday School.

Haha Hedley, you are cracking me up.

It's not clear why Hartshorn is closed through Friday even though they now have power. I'm assuming it's because a lot of streets are still blocked, but many of the same families have to get to the Middle School and High School.

Teacher's Convention is not an option as it would violate the collective bargaining agreement. Same goes for making up classes on a weekend.

It will get worked out somehow but it has to be bargained for.