Longer school day not so easy

• Reprints

Updated: March 8, 2012 8:13AM

There’s a rebellion growing in Chicago’s Mount Greenwood community over the Chicago Public Schools’ plan, driven by Mayor Rahm Emanuel, to extend the school day by up to 105 minutes as of next school year.

More than 500 parents in Mount Greenwood have signed a petition to have the school day (now 5 hours, 45 minutes) extended by no more than 45 minutes, which would match the national average.

The parents say their schools are doing well academically and their students have outside interests, such as sports clubs and arts lessons, that they would have less time for if forced to attend school for 71/2 hours.

They seem to advocate a differing school day by acknowledging that many parents and schools would welcome an extra 90 to 105 minutes per day and should have it if they wish.

We’re not comfortable with that, believing that the school day should be uniform in Chicago Public Schools. That’s probably a given if the CPS plan is to be accepted by the Chicago Teachers’ Union, which isn’t likely to agree to have some members working a longer day than others.

CPS can unilaterally impose a longer school day after the current teachers contract expires June 30, but CTU must negotiate the extra pay and working conditions that would be involved with the longer day.

But we also aren’t convinced that the CPS school day needs to be at least 90 minutes longer. A survey by Raise Your Hand, a parents’ group, of parents at more than 200 CPS schools shows the vast majority want a school day of no more than seven hours.

And there’s also the major question of how the financially struggling system affords a 71/2-hour day. CPS and the union seem committed to more time for core subjects as well as more art, music and physical education instruction and more recess. But that means higher costs for teacher pay and extra teachers, equipment and materials.

Where will the extra cash come from? CPS officials haven’t offered details. We, like many others, would like to know.