Ideal School Day

Dear Nederland Elementary Community,

You may have heard about the Ideal School Day Task Force and its work on a new schedule for
elementary schools based on research and best practices. The goal is to ensure every child has
access to a well-rounded education, and there is adequate instructional time to enhance student
success. The task force will present its recommendations to the superintendent in December.

Goals of the task force’s work include providing a consistent length of day across the district for
elementary students to ensure adequate instructional time in math, literacy, science, and social
studies and providing students with opportunities to experience art, music and physical
education.

While the recommendations are not yet finalized, current thinking is to offer fifth grade students
a choice of instrumental or general music. The rationale is to create equity of specials
opportunities for all students and to increase learning time for core subjects like science and
social studies. In addition, lunch periods would be extended to 25 minutes to address parent
concerns, and recess to 45 minutes to meet health/wellness guidelines and policies.

The task force’s recommendations will be based on best practices to increase student success
and not budgetary implications. The district will meet contractual obligations to teachers. All non-
probationary teachers will have jobs.

As the Ideal School Day Task Force continues its work, I will provide updates through emails and our school newsletter. There will be information posted on the district website, http://www.bvsd.k12.co.us  that we will link to our school website.

Sincerely,

Jeff Miller
Principal, Nederland Elementary