LJWorld.com

A school district decision to give extra days of summer to some Lawrence students has parents scrambling to find child care.

On Tuesday, Superintendent Randy Weseman said he was delaying the start of school for South Junior High students, who are moving into a new $24 million building - and for Broken Arrow School students, whose building was renovated this summer.

Weseman said classes at Broken Arrow would not start until Friday, while South Junior High students won't attend class until Monday.

That delay in the start of school has caused problems for some parents.

"We have an aunt that I was going to try, and I haven't heard yet," Chris Ramirez said. "I'm kind of rushing around to make phone calls to see if I can get a sitter for this."

Ramirez and his wife didn't work Monday and Tuesday so they could spend time with their son, a second-grader at Broken Arrow. They had relieved the baby sitter for the week because they were counting on their son being in school today through Friday when they head back to work.

All other Lawrence elementary school students, except for kindergartners, start class today along with sophomores and seventh-graders, who attend a half-day orientation. A full day of classes begins Thursday, with kindergartners on an alternate schedule.

District administrators say delaying the start of school at South and Broken Arrow will help teachers prepare for students.

Weseman first considered a delay Monday afternoon, when he saw furniture and materials still being unloaded and teachers trying to prepare rooms.

"It just didn't look like we were going to have enough time to get the individual educational environment ready," Weseman said.

Administrators had not planned for all of South to be ready at the beginning of this year, and Weseman said construction crews have done a good job on a tight deadline.

Some parents said they were upset the decision to delay didn't come earlier.

"It's one thing for everything not to come together on time. It's another thing to find out at the last minute," said Lisa Rothwell, a parent of two South students.

After announcing his decision, Weseman said, 30 district employees called parents Tuesday morning.

"I apologize if anyone's inconvenienced, but it doesn't change the situation," he said.

Other parents said the delay may help students, if teachers were too rushed to adequately prepare.

"I would rather have safety of children first. If it takes a few extra days to get work done, I'm all for the safety issue. I think they made a good decision," said Anita Arkeketa-James, parent of a South eighth-grader.

Administrators had not planned for South's gym and some classrooms on the south side of the building to be ready. More work is planned in the kitchen and auditorium, and lunch will be catered from Lawrence High School.

As construction progresses through September, some teachers will travel from classroom to classroom or teach in temporary spaces.

Weseman said he thinks that "within a few months these inconveniences will be a distant memory."