Refuse The Extended Learning Time Grant Program for the Southampton Union Free School District. Do NOT mandate 103-108 minutes of extra school time per day for all children to meet the needs of a few. Allow parents to choose how to voluntarily spend their quality family time.
Why is this important?
We as concerned parents, community members, and tax-payers in Southampton Union Free School District and Tuckahoe Common School District are very concerned about the approved Extended Learning Time Grant Program. This program would mandate, without any parental in-put or opt-out availability, that our children remain in school for an additional 103 minutes/day in the Intermediate School and an additional 108 minutes/day in the Elementary School. This amount of time, along with the proposed daily calendars, puts unreasonable demands upon our children (physically, mentally and emotionally) and robs the family unit of quality family time. This program would negatively affect community based businesses that cater to children and families and infringe on time that would be used for after school activities, including sports, music, and religious education. The massive amount of private student data that will be collected and put in the hands of third-party companies without specific parental consent is worrisome and unnecessary. Refuse the Grant!!!
