March 27, 2013 

Dear Parents:

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”), which initiative was ratified by the LTA on March 15, 2013, as part of its new contract (but has not yet been approved by the School Committee). The School Committee’s expected ratification of the LTA’s contract originally was scheduled for March 19, 2013, but was delayed until April 9, 2013. Specifically, the proposal (hereinafter, the “Proposed Early Release Initiative”) is as follows: 

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

(2) an earlier school start time by 10 minutes, district-wide. 

As has been 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(hereinafter the "Alternative Professional Development Schedule"): 

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

(2) a later dismissal of 10 minutes, district-wide (instead of starting the day 10 minutes earlier). 

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, on April 9, 2013. We are requesting that the School Committee not approve the current form of the negotiated LTA contract, but rather, to work with the LTA to implement the Alternative Professional Development Schedule proposed in this letter. 

If you agree, please sign your name to this petition. 

Thank you. 

Concerned Lynnfield Parents Opposed to Proposed Early Release Initiative

Concerned Lynnfield Parents Opposed to Proposed Early Release Initiative

http://lynnfield.patch.com/articles/parents-district-working-for-common-ground-on-school-day-change