Some Waco schools may extend the student school day next year, and some may not.

The issue of extending the school day for the 2010-11 school year remains uncertain after the Waco Independent School District school board and administration took up the issue again at a workshop Thursday night.

One possible answer discussed was to let campuses that feel ready to make the change to an extended day go ahead with it next year.

A proposed change for Waco ISD could add 20 minutes to the length of school days at high schools, such as University High School, shown in this file photo.
Nick Simonite/Tribune-Herald, file

The discussion echoed talk from a February meeting that highlighted the possibility of extending the day, as well as what that change might do to the district’s teacher morale.

In a survey conducted by Waco ISD in February, Waco teachers voted almost 2-to-1 against extending the school day.

Of elementary school teachers, 173 voted yes to the extension, and 265 voted no. Of middle and high school teachers, 105 voted yes, and 204 voted no.

Teachers’ worries

Tony Uzzell, a Waco High School teacher and president-elect of the Waco Texas State Teachers Association/National Education Association, voiced Thursday some of the same concerns expressed in some survey comments.

“They’re taking our planning time, taking our time to prepare,” Uzzell said.

Teachers’ time outside of class is often used planning, making copies, pulling together lessons and the materials they require, he said.

Superintendent Roland Hernandez said additional planning periods for teachers will be part of reorganizing teachers’ schedules for next year.

Royce Avery, Waco ISD director of secondary education, said the length of time teachers have to plan isn’t important, but they need time to work together to plan.

He said he doesn’t think teachers will have to spend any more time at school.

WISD elementary schools currently run from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. An extended day would change the release time to 3:20 p.m.

District officials said the extra time would help students who need to catch up and provide additional learning opportunities for others.

WISD middle and high schools would spread the extra 20 minutes out through the day, extending class periods from 46 to 50 minutes. The daily schedule would go from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. to 8:25 a.m. to 4:15 p.m.

The elementary teacher workday is currently 7:45 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. and would not change. The middle and high school teacher workday is currently 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and would shift by 15 minutes if the instruction day were lengthened, to 8:15 a.m. to 4:15 p.m.

Administrators in favor

Waco principals came out mostly for the extension of the day when questioned by the administration, though some said teachers should be compensated for the increased instruction time.

Trustee Angela Tekell expressed her concern about an extended school day when she was campaigning for her seat last spring and again at the Thursday workshop.

The bottom line, she said, is that teachers, overwhelmingly, have spoken up against this change.

“If our teachers aren’t with you, what are you going to accomplish other than exacerbating already low morale?” Tekell said.

“I understand the morale issue,” Hernandez said. “We’re getting hung up on adults here, but we’re trying to do what’s best for kids.”

Trustees weigh in

Trustee David Schleicher said he also was worried the extension may result in a longer day for teachers and, eventually, teachers leaving the district.

Trustee Pat Atkins said they needed to seriously consider the impact on teacher morale, especially considering the district may have to announce this summer that there will be no teacher salary raises, that teachers will have to pay their health insurance increase and that some will not get the previous unofficial benefit of free pre-kindergarten.

Avery said he had principals draw up master schedules that would accommodate the current schedule or an extended day. He said he wanted to bring to the board examples of next year’s schedule and also a list of schools that may want to extend their day next year.

Board President Alex Williams said that it’s about time Waco ISD figured out that more time has to be spent with students. He also said that he did not like the idea of some schools, not all schools, going to an extended day.

wgragg@wacotrib.com

757-6901

RELATED SEARCHES

• Some Waco ISD teachers upset they were left out of discussion about longer school day
• Waco ISD officials consider extending day for students