Concerned about the Stewartville School District's staff, school leaders have agreed to make Friday an early-release planning day to give teachers more time to prepare their lessons. The School Board, at its business meeting last week, voted 6-0 to make the change. Rebecca Wortman, School Board chair, and members Will Welch, Nichol O'Neill, Ryan Ravenhorst, Lori Miller-Beach and Dean Mikel all approved the revision. Board member Todd Emanuel was absent. The change means that beginning on Friday, Nov. 13, the district's sixth through 12th graders will no longer be at school on Fridays, but will attend in person only on Mondays and Wednesdays or Tuesdays and Thursdays. Belinda Selfors, superintendent, has said the change means students in grades 6-12 will learn remotely from home on Fridays, with classes ending at 1:15 p.m. to allow teachers to begin their planning sessions. Students in grades K-5 will start Fridays on campus and be released at 12:30 p.m., she said... For more on this story pick up your copy the Nov. 3 Stewartville STAR.
