Tutoring To Cost Millions

Busing Of Students Getting Extra Help Is Hidden Expense Of Teachers’ Contract
BY TONIA N. CIMINO
Some parents and teachers are up in arms over a new tutoring program that would add 37 1/2 minutes to the school day four days a week for children in need, and cut 10 minutes for those not offered tutoring.
According to the Depart-ment of Education (DOE), the extra help would affect struggling students in grades K through 12. It will be mandatory for 290,000 students, and an additional 40,000 students have been asked to attend voluntarily.
And although parents, administrators and United Federation of Teachers (UFT) officials are not opposed to the educational value of the program (part of a larger intervention strategy like a Saturday Academy) most are concerned about its implementation.
“This will affect child care issues,” said Lorraine Gittens-Bridges, president of the Parent Associations/Parent-Teacher Associations (P.A./ P.T.A.’s) President’s Council for school year 2005-2006. “Everyone is mainly concerned about transportation.
Dismissal time is already very difficult for most schools. Now buses will have to come back twice to pick up the kids.”
“The kids [approximately 50,000] will continue to get busing,” said DOE spokeswoman Kelly Devers. Accord-ing to estimates, the staggered dismissal would cost millions for the extra routes.
The program, to be implemented February 6, is a product of the contractual agreement that would give New York City public school teachers a 15 percent increase over three years in exchange for an extra 150 minutes of work per week and two additional days per year.
A teacher of elementary education at a public school in Ridgewood told The Queens Courier, “I don’t think it’s such a great thing. We’ll be helping kids who need the instruction, but I think it’s a hassle, and I think the kids might feel singled out. It’s also a lot of work for the kids – it might be overkill. It should have waited [until next year].”
UFT officials echoed the sentiment.
“This extra 37 1/2 minutes can be used productively in schools where a significant number of students are struggling,” said Ron Davis, a spokesman for the UFT. “[However] implementing it in February is catching parents short. We have urged the mayor and chancellor [Joel Klein] to start it at the start of the next school year. UFT educators will do their best to make it work.”
According to the DOE, students and parents have been notified, and principals and teachers can vote on modifications to the schedule.
“Kids shouldn’t have to wait to get the help they need,” said Devers.“The schools are currently hosting information sessions and orientations. And if parents have any questions, they should talk to their principal and work things out on an individual basis.”
Devers continued, “Every-one knows this will be an adjustment, but the kids getting help is the most important thing.”