Biddeford school committee adopts 9 early-release calendar after debate over training and lost instructional time

The Biddeford School Committee on April 24 voted to adopt draft Calendar B, which establishes nine early-release days for staff professional development in the 2024-25 school year. Rebecca moved for adoption and Megan seconded the motion; the committee discussed the plan before taking the vote.

The move came after a lengthy discussion the committee framed around competing priorities: the need to meet state-mandated trainings and provide meaningful professional learning time versus concerns that half days reduce student instructional minutes and can depress attendance. "I would make a motion for calendar B to be adopted," Rebecca said when she introduced the motion. John said he planned to vote against adopting fewer instructional minutes, telling the group, "I'll be voting against it because I I do think we need to have the time." Superintendent Jeremy emphasized the limits set by current contract language and the practical difficulty of fitting required training into the calendar.

Members pressed for more data on how half days affect attendance and student learning. Marie asked for attendance figures on past half days, saying she often sees families out running errands when children should be in school. Board member Lisa and others said staff feedback shows uneven use of half days across schools and recommended clearer plans for how adult learning time would be structured.

The nut of the debate was a trade-off between ensuring staff are trained for safety and specialized responsibilities and preserving classroom time. Supporters of nine early-release days argued it is the district's current practice and a cautious step that can be revisited; opponents said the district lacks evidence that additional half days will produce consistent, district-wide professional learning gains. "If we put the nine days in and we need more, can that be changed later?" Marie asked; the superintendent replied the board would retain the option to revisit the calendar.

The committee recorded the motion and then voted; the meeting minutes do not include a roll-call tally in the transcript but the chair moved on to the next agenda item after the vote. The superintendent told the committee it needs to finalize a calendar by June 1 to allow families and schools to plan.

Next steps: the district will implement the adopted calendar for 2024-25 and the committee indicated it would monitor attendance and the effectiveness of staff training, with the option to revisit the number of half days in a future meeting.