JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A packed house was at Holiday Hill Elementary School Tuesday night, with parents eager to talk about what's to come: an extra hour of school for children attending 50 of Duval County's Public Schools.
"I support the change even though my kid is doing well in reading," said one parent.
Some supporters could be heard in the crowd, but the voices that stood out were those in opposition.
"No, listen, wait a second," one parent said.
RELATED: Duval schools required or recommended to have extended school hours
"Well, you're throwing your hands up sir ... sir, sir ... You could throw your hands up and say that the additional hour didn't improve the grade. I can throw my hands up and say that 67 percent improved in reading proficiency," said Superintendent Dr. Nikolai Vitti.
According to district data, 85 percent of students were proficient in reading in 2009. But last year, that number dropped significantly, to 55 percent.
Some parents feel the swapping of four principals in five years contributed to those numbers.
"I think we have the right woman in place now, I think we need to give her a chance to do her job and I think the extra hour is an obstacle to that," said parent Shannon Kubishiak.
Vitti and Holiday Hill's principal Tammy Haberman both feel all students -- whether they're proficient in reading or not -- could be enriched by this extra hour.
"We're talking about doing theater, doing a play, project-based," Haberman said. "We got this, let's do it."
WJAX
