City, teachers' union announce plan to lengthen day at 60 schools

Mayor Walsh and Boston Teachers Union President Richard Stutman today announced agreement on a plan to add 40 minutes to the school day at the 60 elementary and middle schools in Boston that don't already have them.

Walsh said the move is a major step to ensuring "a world-class education for every student in the city." He said experience elsewhere and in Boston schools that already have longer days, such as the Trotter and Orchard Garden, show the extra time translates into better test scores, better educations and better beginnings for life.

The deal, which goes before union members next month, also calls for extra time for teacher professional development. In response to a question from an actual Boston high-school student, Walsh added that he and Stutman will be announcing plans later for how to pay for the extra course material and supplies necessary for the extra time.

Officials said the plan, when fully rolled out, will cost the city roughly $12.4 million a year and will mean roughly $4,500 a year in additional earnings for the teachers involved.

At a press conference at the Roslindale Community Center, city and union officials said, assuming teacher buy-in next month, will start rolling out next fall in 20 schools, with 20 more to follow in each of the following two years. The plan does not affect Boston high schools - or "turnaround," pilot and in-district charter schools - which already have longer days, but officials said they might take a new look at high-school days after the K-8 day is lengthened across the system.

Walsh and school officials said the phase in was partly due to cost but also to give time to figure out the best methods for implenting the extra instruction. Interim School Superintendent John McDonough said each school would be given autonomy to let the principal and teachers determine what exactly to teach in the extra time. Each school, he said has its own unique needs.

Walsh said he sat down with school officials and their counterparts at the teachers union to come up with a deal - unlike elsewhere in the country, where he said teachers have been blamed for many of the ills of society. "They were tough negotiations," he said. "They were fair negotiations."

Stutman returned the favor, saying McDonough "has been terrific to work with; he is collaborative, he is open." He said he probably talks to McDonough more than anybody else except for his wife and daughter.