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Utica teachers push single‑track bell schedule at Proctor, say it would ease supervision and scheduling
Summary
A representative of the Utica Teacher Association urged the board to adopt a single‑track bell schedule at Thomas R. Proctor High School, citing safety, classroom coverage and a teacher survey (about 95% support); no formal board action was taken.
Brandon Long, speaking on behalf of the Utica Teacher Association at the Utica City School District board meeting, urged the district to move Thomas R. Proctor High School from a multitrack 42‑minute schedule to a single‑track 41‑minute schedule with a four‑minute study period.
Long said the multitrack schedule complicates hallway supervision, classroom coverage and scheduling and that a single track would "increase safety and organization in the hallways," improve teachers' ability to execute directives such as fronting doors, and ease classroom coverage when staff are short. He told the board that a teacher survey showed "about 95% are in favor of the single track," and that the proposed 41‑minute schedule would yield about 1,001 instructional hours per year — above the New York State minimum of 990 hours.
Long described logistical problems with the current track system: overlapping periods that can leave classrooms temporarily unusable, teachers on incompatible tracks who cannot cover each other's classes, and short 30‑minute lunch periods that limit remediation and extracurricular use. He said the proposed single track would also create a short "study support" period at the end of the day for students to receive help without movement between classes.
Board members asked whether the proposal had been submitted in writing in advance. The chair requested that any future presentations be provided to the board clerk ahead of time so members could review materials; Long said he had planned to but believed a recent board policy change affected how union representatives interact with members. Long said the proposal had been shown to administration and building leadership and that union‑district negotiations were ongoing; he noted the UTA and the district had met repeatedly and the next meeting was scheduled for June 1.
No vote or formal board action was recorded on the bell‑schedule proposal during the meeting; the board and administration indicated they would continue reviewing the proposal and requested written materials for follow‑up.
