Parents Worry Early School Dismissal Will Affect Test Scores

Parents had the opportunity on Thursday to tell the school board exactly what they think of the controversial plan to release students from school one hour early on Mondays, and they didn’t hold back.

Telling the Board of Education that the loss of 33 hours of instruction is “unacceptable,” the parents said though they understand the reasoning behind the plan (to afford teachers from grades Kindergarten through 12 time for professional development) something should be done make up the loss of academic time.

“Any learning time that takes place in the classroom, whether it is a substitute teacher or not, is still better than no time at all,” parent Amy Mackey said during the board’s meeting in the high school media center.

Mackey and another concerned parent met with Superintendent of Schools Wayne C. Sweeney on Monday to discuss the program and though she is now in favor of the program, and optimistic for the future of the town’s children’s education, she still “feels that taking 33 hours away from the children’s learning time is unacceptable.”

Mackey said Sweeney told her that “the one hour early release could not be accommodated any other way because of the six and a half hour work day clause in the teacher’s contracts.”

Mackey said it is a shame a contractual clause takes precedence over the learning opportunities of the town’s children. She is concerned about these lost hours after the release of the Connecticut Mastery Test and CAPT (Connecticut Academic Performance Test) scores on Wednesday.

Parent Douglas Hamilton said that Windsor Locks ranks 146th out of 161 school districts in the state. He said that the cutting back on the number of interactive hours between students and teachers is “heading in the wrong direction.”

“Can our children really afford to lose those 33 hours of instruction?” parent Jennifer Webb said. “The assessment data is telling us no,” she added.

Board Member Michael Royston told the audience that he agrees with the comments about the test scores.

“I’m embarrassed as a board member looking at the test scores,” Royston said. “I have been here four years and the test scores are not better.”

Royston thinks the board has addressed these concerns about the test scores with the hiring of Sweeney. He asked the audience to give the plan a chance to see if it works.

“It’s not the quantity of hours, but the quality,” he said.

Board Secretary Margaret Byrne said that the point has been reached where a plan is needed. She thinks this time will “make our teachers more effective.”

Sweeney said at the last school board meeting he expects that the Connecticut Mastery Test and C.A.P.T. (Connecticut Academic Performance Test) scores will be off the charts because of this program.

Sweeney said he would “resign” if the scores don’t increase.

Chairwoman Patricia King said that the daycare concerns brought up at the previous board meeting are being looked into and hopes a solution will be forthcoming.