January 22, 2010
CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, OH - A study of area school districts shows that our elementary schools have the least amount of instructional time. It’s clear from our research and from conversations with teachers and parents that there is solid agreement on the need to increase the instructional time our elementary students receive.

62% of parents who took the district’s automated phone survey, voted to extend the day now and 38% voted to wait until next school year. However, approximately 49% of our elementary parents did not take the survey. So when we factor in the parents who didn’t respond, the results look more like this:



We’ve learned parents understand the need for more instructional time and want us to move forward. But during this process, parents also asked us to consider changes that would have to be negotiated with the teachers’ union. The original proposal that was offered didn’t violate the terms and conditions of the teachers’ contract and could have been implemented rather quickly.

The Board of Education considered this important subject and agreed, at the request of the teachers’ union, to collaborate on a plan that will best address the needs of our elementary students with additional instructional time. It will be presented in April for adoption next school year.

Finding the best way to do this takes time and consultation, especially with our teachers. Because of this, there will be no change in the length of the day on January 25.