Community discussion starts Monday, Dec. 3

All members of the community are invited to participate in an open discussion Monday, Dec. 3 on how city schools can use additional time in the school day.

Representatives from Massachusetts 2020, the advocacy group founded by former philanthropist and former gubernatorial candidate, Chris Gabrielli, will give a short presentation and then co-facilitate a question and answer session.

The Somerville Public Schools is one of dozens of districts across the Commonwealth, including Malden and Cambridge, which has received a grant to investigate if increasing time for all students in a specific school or population can lead to improvements in student achievement. Specific schools in Somerville that will be making recommendations in May about whether they want to proceed with expanding their learning time are East Somerville Community School, Healey School, Kennedy School, and West Somerville Neighborhood School.

In September 2008 an annual $400,000 grant for free after school programs for nearly 500 students in grades 4 through 8 will expire.

Individuals or organizational representatives who cannot be at this meeting and want to be part of either an after school advisory team, or expanded learning day advisory team are asked to contact the Office of the Superintendent at 617-625-6600 extension 6013.

Meeting to be held Monday, Dec 3rd 2007, 6 – 7 p.m. in the Aldermanic Chambers located on the  2nd floor of Somerville City Hall.