New schedule for Newark students features extended school day and longer lunch for teachers

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Newark Public Schools students will experience extended hours this academic year through a revamped universal schedule that ensures a dedicated lunch break and time for teachers to transition between classes.

The updated schedule, accessible on the district’s website, mandates all students to begin the school day at 8:15 a.m. and conclude at 3:05 p.m. This marks a shift from the previous year’s timings of 8:25 a.m. to 2:55 p.m. for elementary students and 8:15 a.m. to 2:40 p.m. for high school students.

Under the new schedule adjustment, students will now spend a total of six hours and 50 minutes in school, extending their time by 20 minutes for elementary students and 25 minutes for high school students compared to the previous school year. The revised hours afford all teachers a 45-minute lunch break but also require them to have a seven-hour workday, including arriving five minutes before students.

Highlighting the benefits of the updated universal schedule, Paul Brubaker, the district’s communications director, emphasized the additional instruction time, 30 extra hours of tutoring for elementary students annually during school hours, and a lunch period equivalent to a class period.

The district disseminated the revised schedule through its website and pop-up notifications on school homepages. Some parents expressed surprise at the changes as they prepare for the upcoming school year commencing on Sept. 3.

These adjustments stem from a recent agreement between the district and the teachers union to ensure all educators receive a 45-minute lunch break, addressing concerns raised during the contract negotiations about teachers missing meals or hastily consuming snacks between classes.

Effective from the forthcoming academic year, the new schedule and contract mandate an 8:10 a.m. to 3:10 p.m. workday for high school and elementary teachers. Paraprofessionals, such as teacher aides, parent liaisons, and educational interpreters, will also adhere to the same seven-hour workday as teachers.

Nationwide, K-12 public schools typically allocate seven hours per day and 180 days per year for instructional purposes, although the structure and duration of the school day vary by state, as detailed by the Pew Research Center. Additionally, the American Academy of Sleep Medicine recommends middle and high schools to commence classes at 8:30 a.m. or later to support student well-being by reducing the risk of mental health issues.

In 2017, the state’s Department of Education assembled a group of district officials to participate in a study on delayed school start times, uncovering potential challenges across all grade levels, such as transportation, extracurricular activities, and childcare arrangements.

According to Janet Bamford, spokesperson for the New Jersey School Board Association, start times should be tailored by local school boards based on community feedback and specific needs, asserting local autonomy in determining school schedules.

Responding to the new schedule in Newark, Gregory Good, the President of the Parent Teacher Organization at Sir Isaac Newton Elementary School, expressed concerns about logistical challenges for working parents or those with children attending diverse schools. The adjustments will impact drop-off schedules for his children attending various institutions, potentially leading to heightened traffic congestion on the initial school day.

Good emphasized the transportation complexities faced by parents navigating across the city to different schools, particularly charter school parents with children enrolled in far-flung locations.

Contrary to potential concerns, the district does not anticipate a surge in neighborhood traffic or late student arrivals resulting from the schedule modifications, reassured Brubaker. No additional buses or routes are planned for the upcoming 2024-25 school term.

For educators like Joicki Floyd, the extended hours and designated lunch break represent a favorable trade-off for uninterrupted breaks during the school day, contrasting previous scenarios where breaks were scarce, and lunches were often rushed or skipped entirely.

Acknowledging the significance of lengthier lunch breaks, John Abeigon, the union president, cited the high demand for extended lunch periods and increased transition time between classes during the contract negotiations.

Following nearly five months of negotiations, the union’s new contract received 1,331 votes in favor and 582 against, with slightly under 30% of the union’s 7,000 members participating in the vote.

Legislators introduced a bill last year proposing public high schools in New Jersey start classes no earlier than 8:30 a.m., aligning with recommendations from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. However, the bill failed to advance through the Senate Education Committee, emphasizing the ongoing debate surrounding school start times and student well-being.