Groton - Superintendent Michael Graner recommended Monday that students be dismissed early on six days during the next school year to give teachers additional professional development time.

Graner told the Board of Education his proposal is to create six early release days for students at all grade levels on the second Tuesday in October, December, January, February, April and May. Robert E. Fitch High School would no longer release students early one hour about once a week, but would conform to the six days provided districtwide.

Assistant Superintendent Susan Austin said releasing students early would provide a three-hour block for teachers to work on everything from literacy and lessons for remedial and gifted students to transitions among grades. Graner said Groton is also seeing an increase in the number of students who do not speak English, and teachers need some guidance in this area.

But Rita Volkmann, vice chairwoman of the board, said she's concerned about adding early release days in April and December when there are fewer school days because of vacation.

"To me, it's getting to be a lot," she said.

Under the most recent calendar approved for the 2015-16 school year, students in grades 1 through 12 would start school on Aug. 27 and remain in school until June 8. Students in kindergarten, prekindergarten and preschool would start school on Aug. 31.

Teachers would have professional development days on Aug. 20 and 21 before school begins, then on Nov. 3 and March 11, which are both regional professional development days and shared by other district. The proposal would add the early release days to those already on the calendar.

School board Chairwoman Kim Watson said the idea was for Graner to introduce the proposal Monday to give board members a chance to think about it and vote at a later date. The school board holds its next regular meeting at 6 p.m. on April 27 in the Town Hall Annex.

Graner said he discussed the early release plan with the Groton Parent Council and school parent teacher organizations and they were fine with it provided parents had enough notice.

Beth Horler, president of the Groton Education Association, which represents about 450 teachers, gave an example of how the day might work in elementary school. Students would be released shortly before 1:15 p.m., teachers would have a 30-minute lunch, and then they would participate in professional development from 1:45 until 4:30 p.m.

"We have many initiatives in our district," she said. Staff need time to share ideas across grades, she said. For professional development to be authentic, it must be ongoing, she added.

"You can't just do these one-shot wonders and say, 'Go off and do it,'" she said.

d.straszheim@theday.com

Twitter: @DStraszheim