I guess I have really never listened to Chad’s blabbering on his cup of coffee show or whatever he does, but this ridiculous claim about the later school start date was literally pulled out of his butt (or a friend’s butt);
In case you’ve forgotten, the Sioux Falls Public Schools don’t begin until after Labor Day this year. Remember – back in April we actually had a public vote on the issue – thanks to a vocal group of lake cabin moms (sorry, personal conjecture on my part).
While most area schools are already back in session (I’m writing this on Monday August 24), the Sioux Falls public students still have two more weeks of vacation left. They’re not scheduled to return until Tuesday September 8, with school then ending on June 2.
After visiting with a friend who works part-time at a big box store, I’m wondering how many Sioux Falls public parents are having a difficult time finding all the necessary school supplies for their kids. Seems the shelves are bare – and have been for awhile.
I’m guessing those who voted ‘yes’ for the calendar change never thought about the possible consequences down the road. I’ve heard from several parents of public students complaining about all the school supplies being picked over and even completely gone.
My hope is if you’re reading this, and you have a child in the Sioux Falls Public School system, you went out early on and purchased everything your child needed for school. If not – good luck. From what I hear, it’s slim pick ins’ out there.
Then again, I guess you could always call one of those ‘Lake Cabin Moms’ and see if they have any connections. I’m sure they’d be more than happy to help you out – (wink, wink)!
We will get to the ‘Lake Cabin Moms’ statement in a moment. But to think that;
1) A Walmart greeter is an expert on retail inventory of a big box store is like saying I’m an expert on international public policy because I run a blog.
2) Just because SF public schools are starting 3 weeks later doesn’t mean parents are holding off their shopping for 3 weeks.
3) Let’s say that they are holding off, good for them, they will be able to take advantage of the sales. In fact, Jesse Schmidt from the BBB said the best time to go shopping for school supplies is in October to get the best deals.
4) And lastly, if places like Staples and Office Max didn’t keep inventory, they would be out of business.
Obviously, Chad’s comments about school supply shortages are ridiculous, but his comment about ‘Lake Cabin Moms’ couldn’t be further from the truth. Three of the ladies involved in the petition drive all have very respected jobs. One is a communications/marketing director, one works in administration for a college and one is an elected city official, hardly ‘house wives’ that spend their summers at the Lake Cabin.
Of course I wouldn’t expect anything less from Chad. Go back to blabbering about ice cream and breakfast bagels, or whatever you talk about on your silly show and leave the discussion about local public policy up to those who understand it.
Hmmm. Our school starts on Thursday. We just bought school supplies this morning and there were plenty there (Target). Also have observed lots of items left @ other stores, large and small.
Wouldn’t matter if shelves are bare. Order online, there’s an extra two weeks. Prices are cheaper. Free shipping. No sales tax so you’re not paying for restricted access city indoor sports centers.
Lake Cabin Moms, that’s a new one. It’s a small minority. There are more ‘Lake Cabin Retirees and Seasonal Rich’. They’re hardly a factor because they’re leaving with the geese for southern hibernations.
Yes, respectfully these comments were moronic. We bought school supplies recently when they were on sale, and we were just at Staples, Office Max, Target, and Walmart in the last week and there were supplies.
The bigger issue, like another article I saw on the Argus website today, is the continual complaining about the new start date causing various calamities (mostly centered around AP students). Besides the issue of sour grapes, the fact is if you wish to complain about the start date you ought to direct your ire towards the school board and administration who refused to discuss or compromise at all on the start date. Had they done so we would have probably had a date for like September 1st. Even so, the world is not going to end with the current start date. The fact that they we even entertain the idea that 2 or 3 weeks is going to be a calamity for test scores and student’s futures says how poor our education system must then be.
I’m not sure of the exact words but there was an exchange between Obama and McCain where the president said, to paraphrase, that the election was over and that elections had consequences. Chad you and your ilk lost- get over it and move on. Educators here complain about teacher shortages and blame low salaries- why are there so many vacancies in states that have high teacher salaries? There is concern about SD losing programs for gifted students; a recent Wall Street Journal article talked about this happening all over the country too. Perhaps we should spend less money on administrators griping about everything and more money on educating our students.
Ha! I was just out this last weekend and we were able to get everything on our children’s lists at one store! Couldn’t believe it myself. Other years it was difficult to track certain items down but not this year. I agree with Greg, maybe next time elect people who are willing to at least listen to the public that voted you in! Compromise! The world is a tough place when you live in black and white, especially when it goes against your side! You have to live in the grey and be flexible!
School supply shortage? So what, maybe we should all be more concern about the teacher shortage while we are at it…. But then again, many of our civic leaders in this town are more concern about “saving the summer” than a true commitment to education, so why should I be surprised?
Not enough pencils and crayons…..OH THE HUMANITY!!!
Was just at Officemax getting supplies. They are overflowing with enough of the “hard to find” supplies for every student in Sioux Falls.
Amazed at how someone in the media takes the word of a part-time worker, does not do any other checking of his own, and then calls out a group of women that get up and go to work everyday – AND are full-time moms. Disappointing at best.
By the way, the other three moms are a realtor, a lawyer, and an accountant. Yup – they all sound like schlups to me.
Lake Cabin Moms worry about the housecleaner not showing up or running out of Chardonnay, not school supplies. Everyone should be concerned about lowest teacher pay in the nation and class size. The extra weeks gives teachers more summer making it easier to go back to work. Work that’s long hours with pay less than a fast food worker.
Nothing more professional then being a ‘lifer’ DJ like Chad.
I heard a rumor that Stormland/Sick Kids TV was working on a similar story.
So I wonder what store they went to?
http://www.keloland.com/newsdetail.cfm/school-supplies-running-low/?id=184225
So what’s your claim to fame that you feel you can speak with such authority
I don’t use fake moniker names when I ask personal questions?
So AK goes to Lewis to do her story? LOL. I like Lewis and go there when I need ‘little things’. But I would never go there to buy office supplies or big ticket items. I liked in the interview when the store manager said ‘the bigger retailers prepare for this much earlier’ Uh, duh. Yeah, you have only known about the change in the school start date THE ENTIRE SUMMER!
http://www.keloland.com/newsdetail.cfm/late-start–school-supplies/?id=184226
Oh god. Lewis is pretty much a giant glorified convenience store. You can never go there expecting to find anything specific.
We ended up going to three different places last year to be able to get all of our kid’s supplies and it had nothing to do with the start date of school.
I agree, you have had since April to adjust if this is truly an issue – which it frickin isn’t. It’s like Kate Parker stating in the AL a few weeks ago that her kids had nothing to do these three weeks. Well guess what Kate? That is poor planning on your part as a mom as you have had four months to “adjust,” and you sound like sour grapes which got you and this school board into this hot mess to begin with. Pull up your big girl pants already.
Why didn’t Kate pick her kids up some free transit passes so they could go to the library and read?
They also are crying about not enough time for AP test preparation- but they don’t want to teach early American History- the colleges don’t like that and I presume the AP history test would include early American history