Parents: What do you think of early release day?

Click here to chat live with moms on MomsLikeMe.com about the possible changes and read first reactions.

Largo, Florida - Pinellas students will end up with an early release day every Wednesday next school year after the school board voted 4-3 to approve the proposal from the teachers' union on Tuesday night.

The agreement is part of the teacher's contract with the school district. By releasing students an hour earlier on Wednesdays, teachers will have extra time for planning, training, parent conferences and team building. The class hour will be made up the other four days by extending the school day by 15 minutes.

"To make good, worthwhile, challenging lessons, it takes some time," said Pinellas Co. Teachers' Association Director Nancy Velardi.

However, it took an hour of debate to convince the school board it was the right move.

"I don't think this issue was sent out to the schools, the parents, (or) the school advisory councils as it should have been," said Peggy O'Shea, Chairperson of the Pinellas County School Board. "I think (those groups) should have had a chance to weigh in on it."

Many parents agree, saying the early release will mess up their schedules. "It would be a problem for scheduling purposes, because it's difficult to organize the schedule to pick them up," says parent Doug Ronanowski.

His kids attend Fuguitt Elementary, where students get out at 1:45 p.m., an hour earlier than most elementary schools in Pinellas. The early release time on Wednesdays would move that time up to 12:45 p.m.

"The only thing I'm concerned about they don't give you the early off days any other time during the year already scheduled don't add to it," says parent Debbie Mitchell. School district officials say there won't be any other early release days marked for the 2009-2010 school calendar.

Some parents question just how much can teachers accomplish in an hour and is it worth the rescheduling of dismissal, afterschool care and family schedules.

Bambi Jones has a kindergartner and a 5^th grader at Fuguitt Elementary, "I think that's great expectations with that hour... They're going to do something like that... an hour may not be enough."

Some parents say the extra time teachers get will help students in the classroom.

"They do so much hard work they don't get rewarded very well. If it makes it easier for them it's fine with me," says Riley Walsky, the mother of a first grader.

Music Teacher Bonnie Mayak thinks the extra hour will be more beneficial for middle and high school teachers, "Sure it might help with scheduling planning have lots of kids that come through."

The extra hour will be added to the planning time teachers already receive. All teachers receive two hours of paid planning per week outside their regular school day. Elementary school teachers get 30 minutes daily. Middle and High School teachers receive the equivalent of one class period each day.

The contract agreement also states that teachers will ave seven student periods and teach six class periods. Schools will be staffed to meet those needs.

While parents and teachers may have a difference of opinion on the early release day students seem to be in agreement.

"School is very, very, very long it would be nice for it to be shorter," says Fuguitt student Angelo Uliano.

"I like that takes a lot of pressure off of me give me more play time," adds student Sierra Mitchell.

Abigail Walksy says going home early is good, "I like getting out early I get to spend more time with my family."

After approving the teachers' proposal, the school board voted 7-0 to approve new open and closing times for all schools.

Click here to view the bell schedules for Pinellas schools in 2009-2010.