Published in the December 22, 2016 edition

By DAN TOMASELLO

NORTH READING — The school department has made a decision not to extend recess time for elementary students, Superintendent of Schools Jon Bernard informed the School Committee last week.

Sandra Road resident Tracy Conlon, a mother of two children currently attending the Batchelder School, appeared at a school board meeting last month along with a dozen other parents to discuss elementary recess. Conlon requested that school officials extend elementary recess past the current 15 minutes allotted and to stop taking away recess from students for academic reasons.

Bernard said he met with Conlon, two other parents and the three elementary principals to discuss the recess proposals recently.

“It was a good meeting and it was certainly very positive in terms of the tone,” said Bernard. “The parents were very pleasant to deal with but I don’t think they walked away thrilled with some of the information that was provided to them.”

Bernard noted the three elementary principals “polled their faculties” and said teachers are not withholding recess for academic reasons.

“It’s not happening,” said Bernard.

School Committee member Mel Webster noted withholding recess for academic reasons is “not legal.”

Bernard said recently there were several logistical issues with Conlon’s proposal to extend recess or physical education classes such as adding a school day, extending the school day and the finances associated with the proposals.

Conlon said she was disappointed with the school department’s decision in a post on Facebook.

“We are disappointed to say that the school administration will not be giving our kids extra recess time, nor will they make any changes regarding teachers withholding recess for academic reasons,” said Conlon.

While School Committee member Julie Koepke said she was unable to attend the meeting, she reached out to area school committee members via the Massachusetts Association of School Committee’s list serv to gain more feedback about elementary recess time.

“It’s prudent for us to keep it on our radar,” said Koepke.

Bernard said one of the parents gave him and Batchelder School Principal Sean Killeen a note thanking school officials for their time and listening to the parents’ concerns.