Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Special Education School Schedule topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Committee approves Spectrum Academy four‑day week waiver renewal after parent, staff surveys
Summary
A state committee approved Spectrum Academy’s renewal to operate a four‑day school week, citing 993.5 annual instructional hours and local survey support; one board member voted no and asked for year‑end outcome data.
The Rules and Licensing Committee approved Spectrum Academy’s request to renew a waiver allowing a four‑day school week, forwarding the waiver to the full board after committee debate and questions about data and service delivery.
The waiver would continue Spectrum Academy’s exemption from Utah Administrative Code R277-419-4, which requires a 180‑day schedule; the academy would offer 993.5 total instructional hours while using Fridays for optional services and staff professional development.
“The academy serves a quite large population of students that have disabilities, about 85 percent of our population,” said Mandy Furman, assistant director of Spectrum Academy, describing why staff use the post‑Friday time for individualized planning and IEP compliance. Furman said parents and staff completed surveys included in the committee packet and that state charter board approval for the waiver is on file.
Committee members pressed for outcome data. Chair Carey and other members asked whether Spectrum could provide beginning‑of‑year to end‑of‑year assessment comparisons once current testing is complete; Furman replied the testing is underway and the school can supply the end‑of‑year results when available. Furman and Joe Dixon, assistant director, said staff workdays total 187 in North Salt Lake and that Fridays are used for IEP work, professional development and optional student services.
Board member Carol Lear expressed concern about whether students with extensive IEP needs would fare better with a five‑day schedule and asked if teams had reviewed individual IEPs to determine who needs daily attendance. Furman and other Spectrum administrators said families may still bring students in on Fridays for IEP minutes and services; they described the Friday option as flexible and subject to team decisions.
Board member Gerhardt (Vice Gerhardt) spoke in favor of renewal, noting Spectrum’s higher annual instructional minutes and that “IEPs are done in minutes, not days.” Gerhardt moved approval; the committee voted to approve and forward the renewal to the board.
Vote: The committee recorded aye votes from Vice Chair Amanda Bollinger, Vice Chair Molly Hart, Chair Carey and Board member Rod Hall; Board member Carol Lear voted no. The committee asked Spectrum to provide year‑end academic data when testing concludes.
Spectrum’s assistant director agreed to provide the requested data once available. The committee’s approval continues Spectrum Academy’s existing waiver while directors and the committee monitor outcomes.
