Editor, Townsman:
Six of our elementary schools have received grants from the state Department of Education to conduct feasibility studies of whether Andover should adopt the Mass2020 initiative "Expanded Learning Time" (see www.mass2020.org ). In general, this initiative requires that school time be extended by an additional 300 hours per year (1.5-plus hours/day) for core academic subjects, additional enrichment activities and professional development and planning time for the teachers.
Parents were recently invited to "ELT Parent Information Meetings" to purportedly collect their "thoughts, ideas and concerns" during the planning process. Instead of learning about ELT in these meetings, we were bombarded with a one-sided, propaganda-like sales presentation designed to try to make us believe that, in the future, our children will not be competitive with the children in countries with longer school days like China and Finland.
At no time during the meetings were those in opposition to ELT given an opportunity to express their opinions. Any points made by parents that were in opposition to ELT were met with no response from the Mass2020 representative or the school moderators.
The ELT Committee(s) did not discuss any of the following important points:
(1) The ELT initiative was designed for underperforming schools (those in which many students are struggling academically as measured by MCAS and other formal assessments) and for communities where a large portion of the students lack access to after-school activities.
(2) All students enrolled in an ELT grant school must participate in the longer day/year while teachers do not necessarily have to participate.
(3) Mass2020 is looking at Andover as an experiment to see how ELT works in a town with high-achieving schools and several enrichment activities in the community; all of the current ELT schools in Massachusetts are in underperforming school communities.
(4) The grants for the ELT school(s), if awarded, only cover the costs for the grant period. There is no guarantee for future funding. If our School Department cannot afford the cost of the current school year, how could it possibly afford an expanded-day school year?
(5) There is no consideration being given to the precious free time and family time that our children will lose and that families cherish. The value of this time cannot be measured on state tests.
What did come out of the meetings is this: Parents are not getting a vote on whether ELT is adopted in Andover, even after a preliminary ELT plan is designed. This has been confirmed by at least two principals.
It is imperative that those against ELT in town let their school principals and the Andover School Committee know their views. The ELT Committees will not be providing an open forum where people can say "no" to ELT in Andover.
Paul and Holly Gauthier
11 Bradley Road
