In Freeport, a later start for schools?

Portland Press Herald, April 9, 2007

(excerpt) All Freeport schools would open their doors an hour later on Wednesdays this fall under a proposal before the School Committee. The late-start plan is designed to give teachers time to sharpen their teaching skills and identify ways to improve the curriculum.

However, district officials say they realize the schedule change may pose difficulties for families, so they want parents to tell them what's needed to make the change work. Examples might include before-school programs.

The schedule change will depend on how many people in the 1,200-student school district might be inconvenienced, said Superintendent Elaine Tomaszewski. "We're waiting to see the impact," she said. "Will it be on 10 children or 100 children? That could make a big difference."

The board is scheduled to vote then on the calendar for the 2007-2008 school year, which would include the later start time. However, committee Chairman Christopher Leighton said Friday that the board may vote at a later meeting to allow more time for public comment.

"I think we might give it another run to let the public talk about it, because it's not our intention to make life hard for people," he said. "We've got to figure out a way to help them."

Leighton and other school officials said the late start would benefit schools. Tomaszewski said the extra time will enable teachers to do such things as analyze test data to help them improve both course content and their teaching skills.

"This has such a benefit to education - it's hard to pass up," Leighton said.