Much conversation has occurred in the community regarding the extent to which teachers at Paul D. Schreiber High School are fully scheduled to the contractual maximum: 20 hours per week. In the remaining time before the budget re-vote on Tuesday, June 21, it is important that accurate information is available to all voters.

So, let me set the record straight: All full-time teachers at Schreiber provide within several minutes of the full 20 hours of instruction in two ways: 1) Direct instruction to students in the equivalent of five scheduled classes, and 2) by assigned tutoring time in Resource Centers (i.e., Department Offices).

Typically, teachers provide direct classroom instruction for 16 hours and 40 minutes per week. Assigned "Resource Center" time amounts to three hours. As you can see, the total is within minutes of the full 20 hours.

The blend of direct classroom instruction and tutoring is a powerful combination. Most high schools on Long Island assign a maximum of five classes to each teacher. However, no other school in the region has teachers providing direct instruction to the equivalent of five classes as well as over three hours of tutoring time per week. The community is, I believe, getting high value for its tax dollars in this regard.

Having almost completed my first year as the principal of Schreiber High School, I am proud of our school - its students, faculty members, administrators, paraprofessionals, secretaries and custodians. The dedication of the Schreiber staff is far beyond just coming to work. There is a true commitment to all of the children of our community in a manner that feels like "family" to me. I have served as the principal of four high schools on Long Island: Hampton Bays, Mineola, Ward Melville (Three Village), and Schreiber. This school is the shining star among them.

Finally, it is important for me to say that our teachers do not watch the clock. In observing the amount of time that faculty members at Schreiber devote to our wonderful students, it exceeds and oftentimes far exceeds the "20 hours" that has been talked about so much. Our community should be proud, as I am, of the high level of commitment and service that occurs every day at our school.

I truly believe that Schreiber is a place where teaching and learning flourish - every day.

John R. Lewis

Principal, Paul D. Schreiber High School