Boston Globe Magazine ran a story on the state’s Expanded Learning Time initiative.  The article profiles the Umana/Barnes Middle School in East Boston and was written by Lisa Prevost.

http://www.boston.com/news/globe/magazine/articles/2007/04/29/saved_by_the_later_bell/

Published on Sunday, April 29, 2007.

The ELT committee met yesterday and worked to make decisions regarding :

• THE DAILY SCHEDULE- Mr. DeVito asked each committee person present to honestly report on a 7:45-3:15 schedule reflective of the staff.
• Through emails and informal polls taken by several committee members on both the K-4 and 5-8 sides -the clear majority of the staff prefers a 7:45-3:15 schedule for students.
• TOPICS NEEDING REVISION OR CLARITY- We will submit the next draft of our ELT plan by April 27th. Areas for adjustment include grade by grade schedules. The DOE will look at time on learning, noting any increases in the number of instructional minutes per subject.
• The Budget page of the plan will also need detailed attention. The committee will continue to prioritize possible added positions pending funding-Technology coach, Team Leaders, additional Exploratory staffing, Paraprofessionals.
• Under an ELT plan, the Ferryway School would like to form more professional partnerships and several members are obtaining information from Tufts University and other contacts through the Newspapers in Education program.

 The next ELT plan submission is due before April 27th. Volunteers from the committee will meet next Thursday to work on the plan.

Negotiations with the Union will take place after April 27th.

The staff will vote before MAY 30th.

Compiled by Pat Holland