Early Release Wednesday Sticking Around in Manatee

The Manatee County School Board voted 3-1 on Monday to retain school day schedules, including a half-day of instruction on Wednesday, but asked the school superintendent to review other options for next year.

“Modified Wednesdays” have been controversial since they were instituted four years ago to give teachers time for planning or professional development. Still, the board decided to keep the status quo, with board member Julie Aranibar voting against keeping the schedule. Board member Karen Carpenter was absent.

Board Chairman Robert Gause said even though he thought the community was split 50-50 on the issue, he was voting to retain the schedule because he believes it is best for the students.

At issue was providing teachers with planning time without having to pay them for extra work outside the classroom.

But some parents say it crates a hardship because they have to find childcare one day a week in the middle of the day or have to take off from work to pick up their children from school.

School Superintendent Tim McGonegal presented survey statistics showing broad parent support for the modified school week. But a survey of district teachers showed an even split on the matter.

While seven parents spoke in favor of the current school schedule, one parent spoke against retaining “modified Wednesdays.”

Sharon Reyes said she had concerns on how the surveys were conducted. She said they do not represent how parents feel about the issue.

McGonegal said the modified school week provides the time for teachers to plan, without losing classroom time. He said the schedule adds 15 minutes to the school week.

The cost to provide professional development after school would be about $1.7 million, he said.

The superintendent said the first survey the School Advisory Councils did in March indicated that more than 68 percent of the parents wanted the early release of students on Wednesday to continue for the coming school year Nearly 21 percent did not. About 10 percent had no opinion.

Two subsequent surveys showed similar results, he said.
The school district is in the middle of implementing a new teacher evaluation system which will require training, McGonegal said.

Jeanne Viviani, chair of the School Advisory Council at , said teachers need the time to plan. As a parent she is fine with the shorter day, she said.

Principal Annette Codelia said she understands that early release can be a hardship for some of the parents, but explained how hard it is for teachers to fit planning time into their work day when it starts at 8:15 a.m. and can end as late as 6:30 p.m.

Aranibar said she heard from teachers before the meeting who complained that their time was spent in unnecessary meetings or reviewing policies, rather than using the time for planning or professional development.

She was more concerned about the hardship it was putting on those parents who do not have the resources to pay for things like dance or martial arts lessons.

Board member Barbara Harvey, who was a teacher and principal in the district before being elected to the board, said having substitute teachers for teachers in training is not good for the students.

Harvey said she is willing to consider other options that don't impact students. The board asked the superintendent should investigate how other school districts handle teacher training and report back at a scheduled workshop.

In other actions, the board:

• Voted 4-0 to approve an 8 percent increase in tuition fees adults pay for training at as mandated by the Florida Legislature.
• Voted 4-0 to update the student handbook to provide clear procedures for student field trips.