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'Late start' day at DPS leaves empty seats

Some schools see attendance dip on special schedule

By Nancy Mitchell, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published December 13, 2008 at 12:05 a.m.

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Hector Hildago, 7, gives a big smile to Harrington Elementary School teacher Karina Cardenas as she demonstrates how to fold a piece of paper to make a snowflake while Julio Villapando, 6, left, and Perla Gallegos, 8, watch. Friday was the first of five planned "late start" days in Denver.

Photo by Linda Mcconnell / Special To The Rocky

Hector Hildago, 7, gives a big smile to Harrington Elementary School teacher Karina Cardenas as she demonstrates how to fold a piece of paper to make a snowflake while Julio Villapando, 6, left, and Perla Gallegos, 8, watch. Friday was the first of five planned "late start" days in Denver.

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Some Denver Public Schools reported drops in attendance Friday as 75,000 students and their families coped with classes starting three hours later.

One grade school in far northeast Denver reported absenteeism rates similar to "a big snow day" on the first of five so-called late-start days scheduled this school year.

Another, Merrill Middle School in southeast Denver, said attendance was higher than normal, crediting an intense PR campaign to encourage students to show up.

Late-start days are intended to give teachers time to train together in the mornings while students report for a short day, starting three hours later.

The plan, negotiated by DPS and its teachers union, irritated many working parents and raised concerns about whether students would stay home all day.

Some did. Nearly 70 absences - including 57 parents who did not call in an excuse - were reported at Green Valley Elementary, a 600-student school in far northeast Denver.

At Lake Middle School in west Denver, about 150 of 600 students were absent at the beginning of the short day. Principal Hans Kayser said many trickled in throughout the afternoon.

Lake was among the schools offering an option for parents, allowing them to drop their kids off at the regular time and caring for them until classes began.

But many schools had not lined up an option, and DPS Superintendent Michael Bennet e-mailed principals Thursday to ask them to accommodate early arrivals.

At Thomas Jefferson High, staff opened the cafeteria so students could finish homework. Some principals said they had to remind parents arriving at the usual time of the change.

One parent reported confusion at his school, Steck Elementary in east Denver. He said his son arrived at the playground at the 10:30 a.m. start time but spent the next 45 minutes playing before going into the school - where the first thing he did was eat lunch.

David Jared lamented the loss of learning for his son as teachers spent the morning grading district exams.

"I think professional development is great; the schools need it," Jared said. "I think there are much better ways to implement it than the way it's being done."

DPS spokesman Alex Sanchez said principals will share experiences of the first day. A districtwide attendance figure will be available Monday.

"We certainly had the majority of our schools where things went smoothly," he said. "We will learn with time."

DPS is seeking input on next year's calendar. Go to dpsk12.org and click on "Proposed School Calendars."

mitchelln@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-5245