AUBURN — With parents again objecting, the Auburn School Committee approved monthly early-release days for grades seven through 12.

The change will start next year with the 2018-19 calendar. Students will be released two hours early, at noon, nine times next year. Last year, the proposal was for weekly early-release days for those grades. That was reduced to monthly after a study committee considered the proposal.

The Wednesday night vote was supported by the majority of the School Committee, with members Dennis Poisson and Tammy Neilson opposing.

The debate positioned time needed for teachers’ professional development and collaboration to improve teaching against students losing time in class.

Fourteen parents spoke about the early-release proposal for older students with most of them opposed.

Several asked that half-day Wednesdays for grades K-6 be changed to keep students in school longer, or that it be eliminated altogether.

Marissa Moreau, an Edward Little High School teacher and parent, said she’s not in favor of early releases.

“As a teacher I would love the time; I need the time,” she said. She’s working harder than ever this year as more demands are placed on teachers, Moreau said, but other ways should be considered.

“We already have so many interruptions on a day-to-day and weekly basis, field trips, assemblies,” Moreau said. “It’s really hard to keep kids on a schedule when there are more interruptions than routine.”

She has 120 students in six classes. “If we’re really committed to doing this correctly, we should be spending our money on hiring teachers to reduce class sizes, rather than releasing our kids from schools.”

Parent Matthew Kovacevich asked if there was a sunset on the early release for grades 7-12. He was told the recommendation from the study committee was to review it every year as the school calendar is adopted.

Kovacevich said a parent survey didn’t show any options other than reducing instructional time from students to give to teachers.

“What’s being done is essentially throwing kids under the bus here,” Kovacevich said. “Their time in class is being nickeled and dimed. I’m disappointed in all of you that you didn’t hear how strongly so many parents felt about not taking away instructional time.”

Parent Scott Thistle, a member of the study committee that recommended monthly early-release days on a temporarily basis, asked that the other committee recommendations be reviewed, including one that grades K-6 be released at 1 p.m. on half-day Wednesdays, giving them more time in school. Another was that early-release days be unified for all students so that grades K-6 would have nine early-release days, not the current 27.

Over the course of a child’s years in grades K-6, 27 half-day Wednesdays adds up to four months of lost class time, Thistle said. “That’s a big deal.” Just because it’s been done for 30 years doesn’t mean Auburn needs to continue it, he said.

Parents Laura Brann, Pamela Albert and Laura Garcia said their students need more time in school, not less. The grades K-6 weekly early-release policy needs to be revisited, Albert said. “Students need to be in class.”

Garcia said her eighth-grader already spends too much time “sitting and waiting” in class and going without instruction. Her daughter will spend Tuesday, the day before the Thanksgiving break, “watching two movies,” Garcia said. “That’s not instruction.”

Two spoke in favor of the change.

Edward Little High School librarian Heidi McCurdy asked the School Committee to support monthly early release for older students.

She watches teachers “give 110 percent to students,” she said. Teachers need time to work together and “ensure that Edward Little continues to be one of the finest high schools in Maine.”

Parent and teacher Sarah Duchette, a member of the study group, said the group worked hard. “There was great compromise.” At the last meeting it felt good, she said. “We can do this. We’re not losing a lot of instruction time.”

Before the vote, City Councilor Jim Pross tried to amend the motion to add that grades K-6 would be released at 1 p.m. on Wednesdays, giving them more time in school. His motion received no support.

The committee voted without further discussion.

Superintendent Katy Grondin told parents that the recommendation that K-6 students be released later on Wednesdays would be considered.

Students leave Edward Little High School in Auburn on Wednesday afternoon. Despite parent opposition, the Auburn School Committee on Wednesday night approved monthly early-release days for grades seven through 12 next year. (Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal)

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