Cary Parents, Teachers Discuss Prep Time, Length of School Day

Teacher planning time is used for brainstorming, collaborating with staff and getting prepared for students to learn.

However, that time has seen the chopping block at many school districts across the United States.

Special education teacher, Kim Guerentz, said collaboration time is an opportunity for me to brainstorm, to plan and revise with a classroom teacher. 

"And I can’t do that this year," the teacher said. "My ability has been severely compromised by the changes implemented this year and last year."

"I think what I’ve learned though, the structure that was established and that what we had built up to last year wasn’t affordable," Kurt Kaiser, one of the community engagement committee members said Monday night.

increased the instructional time by one-hour for the 2011-2012 school year but some teachers have voiced concerns about lack of planning time during the school day.

The length of school day has taken a toll on Stephanie Schaefer's household.

"The lack of plan time and as well as the increase of content time, with no breaks for teachers or kids, it has made a very big difference, noticeable difference in my household this year," she said.

Schaefer, who has a daughter in first-grade at , said she there's a huge difference in her daughter's attitude, mood, motivation level and enthusiasm towards school.

"I think it’s too much for a 6-year-old to be in a classroom for that amount of time."

As a parent, Kaiser said he was excited when he heard the length of the school day was increasing but the application of it sounds challenging. 

"What was the objective of the addition of time to the school day?" Kaiser asked.

In reponse, Superintendent Brian Coleman said the current contract is being imposed and that we're working with the teachers to negotiate prep time and workday, which are a part of the contract.

"We’re not going to sit here and discussed those with the public at this point because we’ve be bound by confidentiality with the CEA (Cary Education Association) not to discuss the details, which includes the planning time," Coleman said. "We can’t sit here and give our perspective and our opinion because that needs to go with the people at the table," he said.

Jason Larry, vice-president of the board of education, who was careful about not negotiating in public, said one of the main reasons why his family moved here, was community, which is the same thing that is going to pull together and ultimately pull us out.

"I believe what were trying to do together is set in motion, what will be a longer term, stronger district than what we had in the too-good-to-be-true era," Larry said.