| We value feedback from our community, especially in matters as important as the shape of the school year. We want to hear your thoughts on the calendar proposals.
On August 18, 2011, we conducted a telephone survey asking
teachers and parents which they prefer: a balanced calendar or traditional. The district survey successfully reached more than 24,164 families, with an additional 21,013 families, faculty and staff receiving an answering machine message that allowed them to record a preference via email or telephone to the district's Customer Service Center. With a 37% participation rate, considered extremely good for surveys, the results were:
| 2011 Phone Survey |
Balanced |
Traditional |
Total Responses |
% for Balanced |
% for Traditional |
| Faculty |
1,200 |
846 |
2,046 |
59% |
41% |
| Staff |
553 |
513 |
1,066 |
52% |
48% |
| Families |
9,317 |
8,354 |
17,671 |
53% |
47% |
| Customer Service |
131 |
177 |
308 |
43% |
57% |
| TOTAL UNIQUE RESPONSES* |
8,608 |
7,433 |
16,041 |
53.6% |
46.3% |
| Aggregate of Four Groups** |
11,201 |
9,890 |
21,091 |
53% |
47% |
| * "TOTAL UNIQUE RESPONSES" refers to the number of individual responses received in English, Spanish, Arabic, Kurdish & Somali. |
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| ** "Aggregate of Four Groups" refers to the totals for each of the four groups added together (Faculty, Staff, Families & Customer Service). Because many on our faculty or staff are also parents, their responses were recorded in each group that applies. For example, a teacher who also has a child in school would have her response recorded in both the "Faculty" and "Families" categories. Her response would only count once, but she would be allowed to give her opinion as both a teacher and a mother. |
The results include numbers recorded as part of a survey call to families conducted in five languages on Thursday, August 18, as well as totals from phone calls and emails to the district's Customer Service Center on Friday, August 19.
The Board of Education is considering calendar proposals for the 2012-13 school year. The balanced calendar would begin in late July or early August. It would include longer fall and spring breaks with optional school programs so students could get enrichment activities, extra help in reading and math, and college prep during these breaks. It also includes an 8-week summer break. The balanced calendar has 180 school days for students. The proposed traditional school calendar for 2012-13 would begin in mid-August, with a 10-week summer break, one-week fall and spring breaks, and 176 school days for students. The Board will consider calendar options at its regular meeting on Tuesday, August 23.
Full text of these phone calls:
| Telephone Poll Pre-Call (Sent on the evening of Wednesday, August 17) |
| Good evening Metro Schools’ families. Thursday, Aug. 18, Metro Schools will be conducting a telephone survey regarding the school year calendar for 2012-2013. The school board is considering two calendar options: a balanced calendar that includes 180 days of school for students, longer fall and spring breaks that include optional student enrichment programs, as well as an 8-week summer break – or a traditional calendar like the one used currently that includes shorter fall and spring breaks, a 10-week summer break and 176 days of school for students. During the survey, you will be asked to share your preference between these two options. Again, the survey will take place Thursday, Aug. 18, with calls beginning at 7:30 p.m. We hope you will take time to participate in this important discussion. To learn more in advance of the call, please visit our website at www.mnps.org. Thank you. |
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| Telephone Poll (Sent on Thursday, August 18 starting at 7:30 p.m.) |
Good evening, this is an important survey call from Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools about the school calendar.
The school board is considering a balanced calendar rather than the traditional school calendar beginning with the 2012-2013 school year.
The balanced calendar would begin in late July or early August. It would include longer fall and spring breaks with optional school programs so students could get enrichment activities, extra help in math and reading, and college prep during these breaks. It also includes an 8-week summer break. The balanced calendar has 180 school days for students.
The traditional school calendar we now use begins in mid-August, with a 10-week summer break, one-week fall and spring breaks, and 176 school days for students.
Please indicate your preference by choosing one of the following options:
Press 1 if you support the balanced calendar.
Press 2 if you support the current traditional calendar. |
Please bear in mind that the final decision on which calendar to adopt rests with the Board of Education. Community feedback is welcomed, read and taken into account, but will not be considered a "vote" for one calendar or another.
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