Parents and even principals are dazed and confused over how the new teachers contract will affect the length of the school day next year.
The proposed deal calls for teacher training and parent conferences to replace 150 minutes a week of after-school tutoring, which was added to teachers’ schedules with much fanfare under the last contract in 2005.
Under the old deal, some high schools added time to class periods. Now it’s unclear whether they’ll cut those back.
Some principals are already warning parents that school hours will change, but they offer no details, and the Department of Education has been vague on the subject.
“The regular instructional day remains the same, and, of course, schools will still work with struggling students,” said DOE spokeswoman Devora Kaye.
At PS 107 in Park Slope, parents were scratching their heads over a memo sent out by the principal last week.
“If the contract is approved, which is likely, it will have an impact on the length of our school day starting in September,” wrote Principal Eve Litwack.
“Until the contract is ratified, there is no certain information to convey to you yet but please rest assured that we are thinking ahead to consider all of the possibilities.”
PTA President Alyse Dosik knows little more about the cryptic letter.
“It’s really unclear what’s going to happen,” she said. “We just hope our administration can make the best choices for the students.”
Meanwhile, Chancellor Carmen Fariña said Saturday that the city wouldn’t replace the lost tutoring hours but that teachers could work overtime to help struggling kids.
In exchange for teacher raises in 2005, Mayor Mike Bloomberg added 37¹/₂ minutes to teachers’ schedules, four days a week, for tutoring.
If the proposed $8.97 billion contract is ratified Tuesday by the union, students will lose those 150 minutes of help.
Union reps say “multi-session” schools, which have staggered start times, can squeeze in more teacher training and parent conferences by eliminating monthly faculty and department meetings.