NEGATIVE FEEDBACK
Billerica School Committee hears concerns on upcoming vote to extend student day
BILLERICA >> The School Committee held a public forum for parents and community members to continue discussions on the proposed extended school day effort.
Though only two people attended the in-person session Tuesday night — held at Billerica Town Hall — more than 60 people tuned in via Zoom to listen and ask questions.
Committee members are considering whether to lengthen the student day by 30 minutes, which comes out to an additional 150 minutes of schooling per week, with about 40 weeks of school out of a year. The change would go into effect the next academic year.
Superintendent Tim Piwowar reviewed the proposed plans, comparing Billerica total inschool time to that of other local districts. At just six hours and 10 minutes, Billerica Public Schools’ elementary schools have one of the shortest school day lengths, with Chelmsford at six hours 19 minutes, Lowell at six hours 20 minutes and Lawrence, the longest one, at seven total hours.
The district’s middle schools are also six hours and 10 minutes, according to the presentation.
Because of mounting demands, such as a need for social and emotional development, “increased rigor of academic standards” and additional services, the school committee has been seeking a solution, which they may have found in extending the school day by about 30 minutes for the elementary schools and middle schools, Piwowar said.
Theoretically, kindergartners through fourth graders would get more time at lunch and recess and in special subjects, as well as time spent in the newly created “What I Need” block, or WIN block, which would focus on intervention and independence, Piwowar said.
But divided by grade, each class would receive more time learning certain topics — social studies, for instance, would receive more time in third and fourth grade classrooms and less in kindergarten.
“We know the importance of developing strong literacy skills in kids before the time they reach third grade, and so this schedule reflects additional time for literacy in grades one and two,” Piwowar said.
Since the extension has been publicly discussed, however, parents have been quick to criticize it. One parent, via Zoom, called the effort a “halfbaked proposal.” Another questioned why the committee is in a “rush” to drastically change the schedule.
One major concern was that, given the time change, students would be unable to fulfill after-school obligations, such as sports or extracurriculars, but Piwowar said they are considering a program that could address that: “very low-cost” after-school care, which is now done through the Boys & Girls Club.
“We are very optimistic, should this come to fruition, about our ability to provide a rich opportunity for childcare for families,” he said.
Committee members were on the hot seat, as many comments questioned the proposal and their active work in the town.
One remark, aimed at Chair Mark Efstratiou, asked when he’s actually visited schools in the district. At Piwowar’s reading of the comment, Efstratiou, who’s served for seven years, shook his head, explaining that he’s engaged with administrators and students at every level of the district.
He also clarified that, despite statements made regarding Billerica’s standardized test scores and an effort to improve them, the town is far from average.
“There’s no freakin’ way on God’s green Earth that I would ever admit that a district is better than this district,” Efstratiou said. “I don’t care what town it is, what the demographics are… There is nothing average about this school district or anybody in it.”
Efstratiou was also put on the spot when another parent online asked if he tried to pass extended day “without letting us parents know,” to which he said “that is 100% f-a-l-s-e, false.”
The committee has gathered survey responses over the last couple weeks to ascertain how parents and teachers feel about the effort. The survey asks whether respondents agree that “expanding the student day is something that would be beneficial to my child” and “expanding the student day is something that the School Committee should vote to approve.”
The survey will run until the evening of Feb. 1.
To vote on the proposal, the committee will review the responses and likely vote on approval at their Feb. 28 meeting.
the 2022-2023 Lowell High School Parent/guardian Student Handbook lists sections outlining code of conduct for students in areas including dress code, attendance, discipline, search and seizure and physical restraint procedures, suspensions, hazing and substance abuse.
A two-page entry “Student Complaints and Grievances,” does not provide an administrative pathway for students to report concerns about staff behavior, although the section notes that “Nothing prohibits a complainant from immediately pursuing action before a court or administrative agency with appropriate jurisdiction.”
It is not known if the allegations against Amato were first raised in the school setting. District Attorney Marian Ryan’s
Statement of Case was filed Aug. 22, the first day of school was Aug. 31, followed by Amato’s termination on Oct. 5, his indictment on Dec. 22 and arraignment on Jan. 23. The school sent its letter to families Jan. 24.
The LHS handbook does not address behavior related to sexual harassment, even as surrounding districts do.
The section on harassment, including sexual harassment in Winchester Public Schools 2022 policy manual, adopted by the Winchester School Committee in 2015 states:
“The Winchester Public Schools is committed to providing faculty, staff and students an environment which allows them to pursue their careers and studies in physical and emotional safety. All persons associated with the school system, including, but not limited to, the school committee, the administration, faculty, staff and students are expected to conduct themselves at all times so as to provide an atmosphere free from harassment. These same individuals are strongly encouraged not to tolerate, even by silence, any violation of this policy by others.”
The other legal issue confronting the School Committee concerns allegations outlined in a November letter by former City Solicitor Christine O’connor regarding complaints made to the Law Department alleging ongoing violations of the District’s hiring policies, DESE regulations, and state law. The allegations are not part of the public record.
O’connor said, “the allegations taken as a whole, reach well beyond the otherwise exclusive jurisdiction of available grievance procedures. Specific claims of retaliation have also been made after individuals reported claims to supervisors, certain members of the Central Office, and the union. As such, those who have come forward should at this stage be viewed as falling under the protection of the Whistleblower Act.”
In a December executive session, the School Committee emerged to approve a motion to “move forward and get outside counsel to look into the allegations addressed in the former City Solicitor’s letter.”
An update from the City Law Department on the bid process for acquiring outside counsel to conduct the internal audit has been delayed due to staffing challenges. School Committee member Connie Martin, who is also chair of the Human Resources & Labor Relations Subcommittee, will present her report on the Jan. 11 meeting at which 2nd Assistant City Solicitor John Mckenna said he was compiling a list of outside firms, a process that he was still pursing as of the subcommittee’s most recent meeting of Jan. 26.
The School Committee meets in the second-floor chambers of City Hall, 375 Merrimack St., at 6:30 p.m. the first and third Wednesday of each month. To speak at a meeting, please email Minerva Palazzo on mpalazzo@lowell.k12. ma.us or call 978-674-4324. All requests must be submitted before 2:00 p.m. on the day of the meeting.