Contract Dispute Has Modesto School District Planning School Year One Month At A Time
MODESTO (CBS13) — As parents are making plans around their children's school schedules, the Modesto City School District has only released the calendar for the first month of this next school year.
It's less than a week away from the first day of school, and so far the district only has a schedule set through the first month of August.
"Usually we make our plans ahead of time and seems like we can't do that no more," said parent John Costello. "I have to schedule my workday around his minimum days."
The district says stalled contract negotiations have prevented it from finalizing the entire school year ahead of time.
"Until we have that contract our school district will be operating on a month to month basis," said spokeswoman Becky Fortuna.
Nothing beyond August has been decided.
"We have heard from parents who have been expressing their frustration," she said. "Lots of our parents that have students who are seniors or juniors and are wanting to plan college visits. We are doing our best to come to a resolution."
Sonoma Elementary School fifth-grade teacher Barry Courtney's lesson planning is on hold.
"There are certain things I do now to prepare for the whole year—put my calendar together, lay out what I'm going to do—so it's a bit of an issue," he said.
The next negotiation sessions are set for Aug. 17, where the board of education will vote on the September calendar.
