School Board ends short Wednesday schedule

MANATEE COUNTY — Manatee County Public Schools will be reverting back to a consistent five-day schedule.

The School Board, June 11, voted unanimously to eliminate early-release on Wednesdays for the 2012-13 school year.

Under the schedule change, when school starts in August, Manatee elementary-, middle- and high-school students will start and end their days at the same time each weekday, with school hours from 7:45 a.m. to 2:05 p.m. for high-school students, 8:30 a.m. to 2:50 p.m. for elementary-school students and 9:20 a.m. to 3:40 p.m. for middle-school students, Monday through Friday.

“We need to go in a new direction,” School Board member Julie Aranibar said, noting Manatee schools are ranked 47th of 67 Florida school districts. “If you look at what our scores were before we did (the modified Wednesday schedule) — that’s what we need to do.”

Since 2007, students have been in class for a half-day on Wednesdays, with dismissals at 12:30, 1:15 and 2:10 p.m., respectively. The extra time on Wednesdays was used for teacher planning and training.

Manatee Schools Superintendent Tim McGonegal said data and state test scores are not indicating the schedule, which was aimed at giving teachers time for planning and training, is benefiting students. And, in a Manatee Education Association online survey on the issue, the majority of teachers — 53% — said they agreed the modified schedule did not benefit students.

“The majority of teachers and SAC (Student Advisory Council) members believe the schedule isn’t best for students,” said McGonegal, who recommended the change. “That played a big role in my decision.”

However, the MEA survey also showed educators were split 60% to 40% in favor of keeping the modified instructional schedule, because they valued that individual planning time.

McGonegal said teacher training is imperative to the district’s success, and the district now will work with the MEA to determine how best to provide training and planning time for teachers.

School board members considered a proposal to eliminate early-release Wednesdays last July, but voted 3-1 to retain the current schedule, after principals, teachers and parents asked to keep Wednesday afternoons open for training and planning. Aranibar, the dissenting vote in 2011, noted doctors and other professionals train for additional certifications on their own time.

At last summer’s meeting, School Board members also indicated they wanted to see evidence, through test scores, that the early-out schedule was helping students.

Contact Pam Eubanks at [email protected].