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Committee reviews schedule adjustments and extended‑day changes after start‑time shift
Summary
Administrators described adding minutes to core classes and a new Rams/intervention block after board‑approved start‑time changes, and central office and extended‑day staff briefed the committee on adjustments to extended‑day tuition and capacity to reduce wait lists.
District administrators updated the School Committee on May 15 about schedule changes that result from the board‑approved 15‑minute lengthening of the school day, and about parallel adjustments to the district’s extended‑day program and tuition structure.
Dr. [presenter] described high‑school and middle‑school scheduling changes intended to add instructional minutes to core academic classes. Staff said core classes that had been 51 minutes will be increased to 56 minutes in the revised schedule, and that Rams (intervention) or similar blocks were adjusted so students would receive additional intervention and math support. "The 14 of the minutes did go directly to the 4 content areas and then they adjusted the Rams block," the presenter said.
Committee members asked for a one‑page schedule mockup showing where the added minutes were taken (transition time versus instructional minutes) and requested a follow‑up report early next year on implementation and instructional impact. Administrators said some transition minutes were tightened between periods to create instructional time without materially disrupting passing or contractual prep time; the district will confirm any impacts on unified arts and teacher prep allocations.
Separately, extended‑day program staff and central office reported they had restructured rates to reflect the longer school day and to open additional capacity, particularly in kindergarten. Staff said the total extended‑day enrollment for the coming year is projected to be about 251 students and that the program currently has about 63 families on the wait list; this year the program served about 224 students. To manage changes in hours while keeping hourly rates stable, staff said they applied a modest 5% rate reduction for larger enrollment blocks and a small premium for very short‑hour arrangements, and that they would ask families to commit with deposits to reduce late‑summer attrition.
Committee members asked that staff clearly communicate to families how the schedule and extended‑day tuition interact—particularly where total family cost changes because of additional hours even when per‑hour rates are adjusted. Administrators said they will distribute finalized extended‑day tuition schedules and sign‑up procedures to families shortly.
