Clovis schools eliminating early release on Wednesdays

Staff report

Wednesdays just got a little bit longer for elementary school children attending Clovis Municipal Schools.

Beginning in August, CMS elementary schools will no longer release students at 12:45 p.m.

Instead, students will have a full day of school as they do the other four days of the week.

According to a press release and to CMS Superintendent Jody Balch, the former Wednesday schedule took 10 percent of instructional time away from the students each week.

Balch said the drop in educational opportunity might be even greater than the estimated 10 percent.

He said students may be distracted on days they know they will be released early; further hindering their learning.

“We want (the students) to get the full time that’s available to them,” Balch said.

The early release was implemented during the 2005-2006 school year. According to the press release the shortened schedule was intended to give teachers the opportunity for professional development.

Balch said a different time will be allocated for teachers to be able to proceed in professional development, but that it will not be during school time.