AUBURN — On the recommendation of Chairman Tom Kendall, the Auburn School Committee voted Wednesday to table a vote on monthly early releases for grades seven through 12.

Most policy changes require two meetings with two votes, Kendall said, noting that Wednesday night was the first time recommendations were shared.

To give the public more notice, Kendall said, the vote could be postponed until the Nov. 15 meeting, a suggestion that the committee approved.

What the School Committee will vote on Nov. 15 is a recommendation from a study group that grades seven through 12 be released from school two hours early one Wednesday a month beginning in the fall of 2018, said School Committee and study group member Heidi Lachapelle.

The goal is to give teachers more time for professional development.

The group also said the School Committee should consider having fewer half-day Wednesdays for younger grades, that early releases should be consistent with all grades and K-6 students should have monthly, rather than weekly, early releases.

Two other considerations from the group were that for busing considerations, grades K-6 should be released later, at 1 p.m. instead of 11:30 a.m., and that monthly early releases should be a temporary fix.

More time for professional development for teachers should become part of the labor contract negotiations when the current contract expires in two years.

That would cost more money because teachers would work more hours. But if the reason for the higher cost was to directly benefit students with more time in class, parents would get behind that budget, said Scott Thistle, a parent member of the study group.

Thistle was a staunch opponent of last year’s proposed weekly early release for grades seven through 12. This year he said thank you to committee members “who endured” the study group meetings.

Parents on the committee feel strongly that the monthly early releases not begin until next year to give parents time to figure out what to do with their students in grades seven through 12 on the half days.

One idea that emerged was that students could use that time to enhance their portfolios as they move toward the new proficiency-based diplomas, Thistle said. That way, it could become meaningful time for students, he said.

Parent Chris Brann spoke against any reduction of class time.

Brann is a parent of an Auburn seventh-grader and chairman of the board for Acadia Charter School in Lewiston, which gives students a longer year of 220 days, he said. Maine law requires a minimum of 175 days of instruction.

Children need more time in school, not less, Brann said. “I understand that professional development time is extremely important.” At Acadia, the school provides students with more class time and teachers with time to meet, he said.

The survey the Auburn School Department sent to the community about early release for grades 7-12 didn’t ask whether parents supported the idea. It only asked parents to decide on the least objectionable alternative being presented, he said.

Brann suggested the Auburn School Department not approve any early releases until the next teacher labor contract is negotiated. The issue is “keeping our kids in classrooms, giving them the instructional time they need, not less of it. I urge a more creative solution.”

Barbara Howaniec, a parent who was a member of the study group, said her group was tasked with finding a way to get additional professional development time for teachers.

“We weren’t given the option of saying no,” she said. “Many of us were not in full support of this being the plan.”

Copy the Story Link