Split decision on a longer school day

A longer day is likely for students and teachers at Salemwood School, but it will be status quo at other Malden elementary schools, after the School Committee issued a split decision Monday on a plan to extend the school day.

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Amid opposition from some parents and teachers, the committee voted, 7-1, to add almost two hours to the school day at Salemwood, Malden's largest elementary school. By the same tally, the School Committee voted against an extended day at Forestdale, where parents had lobbied against the plan.

Superintendent Joan Connolly, who had urged the committee to approve both plans as a ''bold step" to improve student achievement, said she is happy with the decision.

''We've got a good plan in place at Salemwood," Connolly said. ''We have to start somewhere. And hopefully we'll be able to revisit this next year at Forestdale."

The new hours at Salemwood will be 7:45 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., adding one hour and 45 minutes to the school day. The schedule at Forestdale and the city's three other elementary schools will remain 8:15 a.m. to 2:15 p.m.

Union teachers and aides at each school also voted narrowly against extended day plans, despite the promise of an 18 percent pay raise. But the School Committee's vote means Salemwood teachers will have to go along with the plan or seek a transfer to another school.

''This is groundbreaking," said Gerry Ruane, president of the Malden Educators Association. ''Our members had several questions about how this would impact them and their students. In the end, I just think some wanted more information and time to prepare."

Some Salemwood teachers said they look forward to a longer day. ''A 45-minute period is not enough time," said Alex Fields, a first-year teacher who teaches eighth-grade science. ''And I think the additional pay they've offered us is fair."

Brenda Keene, a 20-year teacher assigned to Salemwood since 1996, said teachers will have more planning time. ''That's something I like about it," she said. ''An opportunity like this doesn't come along very often."

Malden is among 16 school districts selected to compete for state Department of Education grants to cover the costs of extended day. At a minimum, districts must add 30 percent more classroom time, split evenly between academics and enrichment courses, such as drama. The hours must apply to all students in a school.

Malden received a $25,000 state grant to plan for an extended day. Principals at Forestdale and Salemwood agreed to pilot the program. A committee at each school helped plan how the new schedule would work. Malden now will submit only the plan for Salemwood, officials said.

The School Committee's vote stunned some parents.

''I am outraged that they have chosen to ignore the . . . opinion of the teachers, who voted against the extended day by a majority at both" schools, parent Robin Farren, wrote in an e-mail message to Globe North.

Votes to gauge staff support for the extended day sharply divided teachers. At Salemwood, teachers voted, 49-44, not to accept the plan, while Forestdale teachers turned down the plan, 34-29.

Judi Lombard, a Forestdale parent, said the state grant program is too restrictive by mandating at least 30 percent more class time for all children in a school.

''We are not against reform," Lombard told the School Committee. ''We are not against some additional time. . . . We want a choice and believe that we deserve to have a choice about what is right for our own children."

The state has said it will provide about $1,300 per student to fund extended day programs. The state Education Department has said it will notify communities by May 15 whether they have been selected for a grant. Connolly is confident Malden, which is under pressure to raise MCAS scores, will be approved.

''I'd say it's highly unlikely we wouldn't be selected," she said. ''The state so far has been very supportive of our plan."

Still, the School Committee was reluctant to make the change at both schools. At Forestdale, the pending retirement of principal Maurine Chirichetti and opposition from teachers influenced some.

''To implement a plan, you have to have buy-in from the stakeholders," said Greg Lucey, the committee's vice chairman, whose son attends Forestdale. ''The numbers are different at Salemwood."

Some Forestdale faculty are disappointed, however.

''As a science teacher, I could use more class time," said Pamela Skinner, an eighth-grade teacher who has taught at the school for five years.

Pamela Zelaya, a third-grade teacher, said she worries that the state grant money might not be around next year. ''This was an opportunity for us," she said. ''I am a little disappointed in this vote."

Kathy McCabe can be reached at kmccabe@globe.com.