SEQUIM — The Sequim School Board has unanimously approved attempting to extend its school day by 10 minutes while cutting a few school days through the next three years.

During a special board meeting Thursday, the board approved 5-0 a resolution allowing school district Superintendent Bill Bentley to apply for a waiver of the 180 state school-day requirement with the Washington State Board of Education.

The proposal that will be presented to the state board calls for a reduction of two school days through the next three school years to provide parent conference time so as to lessen the disruption to students and families, plus a reduction of two days.

At the same time, the daily instructional time would increase by no fewer than 10 minutes per day.

The total annual number of school days would be no fewer than 176 under Bentley’s proposal.

“The waiver will support improved student achievement through increased student time on task and extended learning opportunities for all students,” the resolution said.

More instruction time

Explaining why he made the request during a special meeting called the day before, Bentley said, “My primary idea is to advance instructional time.”

He said he believed it was a “win-win” possibility for the district.

Before the board voted, Bentley stressed it would have the final say on the option, with public comment and collective bargaining to be considered.

“It is my opinion that we need to look at our instructional day,” he told the board.

Bentley said he had to call the special meeting because he was under a tight deadline to apply for the option to extend the school day, with the state superintendent requiring 50 days’ advance notice prior to a July state board meeting.

Bentley said he believes the state board will be open to the option he proposes.

It was the first time he has made such a proposal, he said.

The day could be adjusted, for example, from the present 8:15 a.m. to 2:45 p.m., extending it to 2:55 p.m., but the exact school-day scheduling had to be worked out, the superintendent said.

Teachers’ union

David Updike, Sequim schools psychologist and Sequim Education Association president who attended the meeting, said the teachers’ union leadership had not presented the proposal to its members.

“Basically, he’s asking us to work 10 minutes a day more total,” Updike said, adding that it was not an immediate concern in light of the fact that it was only a possible option.

“Down the road could be different if it becomes an option,” he said.

If the school year were cut to extend the school day, Updike said, it would mean that a reduction of 4.5 school days would be necessary so that teachers would not have to work a longer schedule.

Board members remained open to Bentley’s recommendations.

Must be creative

“We’re being put in a position where we have got to be pretty creative right now,” board Director Virginia O’Neil said.

Stephen Rosales, who has declared his candidacy for the board position now held by board Director Walter Johnson, asked the board why there was no public comment on the matter.

Board Chairman John Bridge said an additional 10 minutes to a school day was “not that much more,” and he believed that come September, things could change.

Staff reductions

Bentley said he was waiting for specific numbers from the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction before he could make any final decisions regarding proposed staff reductions.

“Based on what I am hearing now, we have the opportunity to restore a significant number of programs,” Bentley said after the meeting, but he added he was not ready to say he was 100 percent certain and that the Sequim board has two months to determine its final 2011-2012 budget.

The school board in May targeted up to 10 teaching positions for layoff in anticipation of potential state budget cuts that could force the school district to cut expenditures by $950,000.

The school board approved 5-0 Bentley’s Modified Instructional Program recommendations and his suggested reduction in force of up to 10 teaching positions.

The plan also shows $330,000 in savings from cuts of 5.5 certificated staff, which includes reductions because of enrollment declines — projected at 2,660, down from 2,685 — and changes in the school funding formula and which Bentley suggested may occur regardless of what cuts are instituted.

Also included are cuts of $100,000 in the district’s curriculum-technology allocation, a $75,000 cut in para-educator staff time, $32,000 in contracted services such as physical and occupational therapy, and $20,000 in travel, supplies and capital outlay.

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Sequim-Dungeness Valley Editor Jeff Chew can be reached at 360-681-2391 or at jeff.chew@peninsuladailynews.com.