LETTER: Petition on Early Release Initiative

March 27, 2013

To the Editor:           

As you are aware, Dr. Jefferson and the School Committee have proposed an “early release” initiative to provide additional professional development hours to the Lynnfield Teachers Association (“LTA”); an initiative which was ratified by the LTA on March 15, 2013, as part of its new contract.   The School Committee expected to vote and ratify the new terms of the LTA’s contract on March 19, 2013, but postponed the vote until April 9, 2013.  The new terms that the School Committee and Superintendent negotiated with the LTA provide the following proposal (the “Proposed Early Release Initiative”):

(1)  an early release day – 90 minutes early – every other Wednesday; and

(2)  an earlier school day  – start 10 minutes earlier-  district-wide.

As represented to Dr. Jefferson and the School Committee, we fully support providing additional professional development hours to the LTA, and we understand that an increase in professional development hours is required.  However, for numerous reasons that have been articulated by Lynnfield school parents, we do not support the Proposed Early Release Initiative. 

Based on feedback from a large number of parents in the Lynnfield School District, we support the following proposal as an alternative (the “Alternative Professional Development Initiative”):

(1)  a half-day, once a month on a Friday; and

(2)  a later school day - end 10 minutes later - district-wide.  

We also propose that a committee with several parent representatives along with teachers and administrators be appointed to examine and provide input on the data and results of the new professional development schedule after one school year.

The School Committee is scheduled to vote on the 3-year LTA contract, which contains the Proposed Early Release Initiative outlined above, on April 9, 2013.  We are requesting that the School Committee not vote to approve the current Proposed Early Release Initiative, but rather,  work with the LTA to implement the Alternative Professional Development Initiative proposed in this letter.

We are asking all residents that if they agree, to please sign their names to the petition sponsored by the Concerned Lynnfield Parents Opposed to Proposed Early Release Initiative which can be found at www.ipetitions.com/petition/early-release-proposal.  Hard copies of the petition can be obtained from Tricia Torosian at triciator@verizon.net, Lisa Colucci at lj.colucci@verizon.net, or Amy Nardone at amynardone@hotmail.com.

Thank you for your support.

Concerned Lynnfield Parents Opposed to Proposed Early Release Initiative

Elaine Gravante

Tricia Torosian

Melissa Sorrentino

Beatriz Van Meek - Barrett

Rene D’Amico

Sheila Craffey

Lisa Colucci

Rosalind Rose Miranda

Anne Mitchell

Amy Nardone