Back to the drawing board

School board members put off deciding whether to force Spring Hill Elementary teachers to make up a missed day of school last month due to a nearby police standoff.

However, one teacher union official said nothing has changed since the last meeting and that the board is back to square one.

During the 7 p.m. meeting Tuesday at the board office, Joe Vitalo, president of the Hernando County Teachers Association will once again ask the board to pay teachers for the Jan. 23 school day missed due to a nearby nearby between law enforcement and a man who barricaded himself in his home.

Teachers at that time were told to stay home. Vitalo earlier this month argued that district officials could have directed them to another location to work, but chose not to.

He added that due to that decision, officials surrendered their right to tell employees they had to make up that missed day.

Since the Feb. 7 meeting, Vitalo said there has been no meeting between union and district officials — adding he'll be learning about any new proposals the same time as the school board.

"I can't say there's nothing that's been going on since that meeting," Vitalo said. "They just haven't told us anything."

During the earlier school board meeting, Superintendent Bryan Blavatt recommended that teachers make up the missed day by taking a planning day in April when students wouldn't be in school. Teachers also could use a personal leave or vacation day.

However, board members Dianne Bonfield, James Yant and John Sweeney sided with Vitalo and agreed that teachers likely could be credited with working from home.

In other business, board members are expected to:

• Consider options for next year's academic calendar.

The board also will meet for a 2 p.m. workshop that day to discuss how to move forward with filling the school board attorney position, district job descriptions and the schedule to discuss the 2012-13 budget.

For a look at the complete agenda, go to www.hcsb.k12.fl.us.