Amherst has received a $10,000 planning grant from the State’s Board of Education to study the feasibility of expanding learning time in the school district’s seven schools. The town was among 29 communities statewide to be awarded such grants this year.

Wendy Kohler, Executive Director of Curriculum and Program Development for Amherst’s schools said “We keep talking about how we need more time, and this is money to look into how to accomplish that.”

Kohler spoke about the challenges of fitting in the core educational elements and enrichment subjects as well as the teachers’ professional development work within the time allotted, and said “We don’t want to sacrifice or compromise our commitment to the arts, or physical education, for example.”

The State grant calls for studying the expansion of learning time “by at least 25 percent or 300 hours per year.” Kohler called the situation “complicated to look into,” and said that both lengthening the school day and the school year will be considered.

She expects action on the study to begin in December, by setting up of teams across the district to examine various models and seek comments.

Elaine Brighty, Chair of the Regional School Committee, said that altering the current system has wide-ranging implications, so getting input from all parties is vital. “These kinds of changes would affect everything – parents’ schedules, after school programs, teachers’ contracts,” she said. “The unions and everyone need to be on board.”

If the study results in a recommendation to make such changes, the goal would be to implement them for the 2008-2009 school year. While the current grant is for exploring the concept, the Board of Ed offers implementation grants as well.

Additionally, school systems that make such changes can be eligible for increased Chapter 70 funding from the State, Kohler said.

Locally, Northampton, Chicopee, Greenfield, Gateway Regional and Westfield also received the planning grants.

-- Stephanie O'Keeffe