By Linda Conner Lambeck

WESTPORT — Board of Education members have often asked about the cost associated with the mountain of district initiatives, from strategic planning to equity work, anti-bias training curriculum revisions and state mandates.

Last week, they learned the initiatives also come at the expense of instructional time.

To help teachers keep up with it all, the school board is being asked to revise the 2024-25 academic calendar to squeeze in an additional two and a half professional development days for staff. 

One full day of staff training would be held mid-September, bumping the end of the district’s 182-day school year for students to June 13. Another three half-days would be inserted throughout the school year, added to the two half-days already included in the calendar.

Shortened school days count toward the state’s mandate that all public schools be in session at least 180 days each academic year.

Maximizing learning time … for teachers

Board members pointed out, however, that the proposed calendar revision shortens instructional time for students the equivalent of a day and a half. 

The district already has three full days of professional development before school starts for students on Aug. 27, as well as on Election Day and a day at the end of February break. 

To see the calendar for the 2024-25 as it currently is scheduled, click here. To see the proposed revisions, click here.

“I suggested this be an interim plan — to see how it goes,” Supt. of Schools Thomas Scarice said. “We are looking to maximize time for adult learning.”

Some attempt is made to use faculty and staff meetings after school on Mondays for targeted training, but Scarice said the ambition of district initiatives requires more time.

“We realized early on there is no way we can fit this all in,” Assistant Supt. Anthony Buono said of the professional development envisioned.

He described the list as daunting, ranging from curriculum writing, a new teacher evaluation program, district initiatives on growth mindset and collaborative problem solving and efforts to make students feel they belong.

Scarice said the quality of teacher/student contact time will be better if teachers get the training they need.

The proposed calendar revisions would essentially give teachers a full or half-day of training one day each month except January.

The board was told the plan was vetted by both principals and the teachers’ union.

Wednesdays, Fridays or Mondays? Morning or afternoon?

Buono said the plan is to have tall of the half-days  fall on Wednesdays, consistent with current practice. 

The teachers’ union, however, is requesting that instead of holding training sessions in the afternoon after classes let out, they be held in the morning with a three-hour delayed opening on development days.

Board Vice Chair Dorie Hordon called professional development important for teachers, but wondered why they couldn’t be scheduled on Fridays instead of Wednesdays.

“A lot of families pull their kids on a Friday anyway, especially before vacations,” Hordon said. She said early dismissals Fridays would be more family- and student-focused.

Board member Abby Tolan said she favors early release rather than late start for students. She said she is not sure how elementary school parents would get their kids to school on those days.

“In the morning is when kids are fresh,” Hordon agreed. “I am not supportive of having kids in school in the afternoon and giving the morning to teachers. Kids need to go to school in morning.”

Buono said he is not sure how productive a Friday afternoon training session would be for teachers.  Still he said, the administration is open to any ideas and could bring the board back two or more models at the May 2 meeting when a vote is expected.

Board member Jill Dillon suggested switching to a half-day professional development sessions on Monday would give families the option of a longer weekend. 

Dillon also called a little built-in break each month for students is a positive idea.

During the public comment portion of the meeting, Lori Freeman, a parent, said she agreed with Hordon that Fridays would be better than Wednesdays for half-days, but that she could be sold on the Monday morning idea as well.

Freelance writer Linda Conner Lambeck, a reporter for more than four decades at the Connecticut Post and other Hearst publications, is a member of the Education Writers Association.