On Thursday night, the Joint School Committee decided to delay the finalization of the tri-town schools’ calendar to give Rochester time to review it.

The Rochester School Committee missed its last meeting due to a snowstorm. All other school committees have already reviewed the calendar.

The main change proposed in the 2015-16 calendar is the addition of professional development hours for teachers. Last year, the Joint School Committee decided to cut back on professional development hours to give kids less half days and more continuity in their schedule.

With new initiatives in reading and math as well as new standardized tests, administrators say there is also more need for development time. Additional time will help teachers assess testing data and discuss professional development lectures in a collaborative environment, said Assistant Superintendent Dr. Elise Frangos.

“Time plus facilitated, strategic collaboration would equal increased student learning,” Frangos said.

This year, teachers have a total of 12 hours of development time. Next year, administrators would like 20 hours or four half days of development.

Mattapoisett Principal Rose Bowman said teachers at her schools are in favor of reinstating the development time.

Junior High Principal Kevin Brogioli said his teachers would welcome even more time, especially with all the data on students that they need to evaluate.

“We don’t have a lot of time to get that done,” Brogioli said. “It’s a start. We’ll gladly take it.”

At the high school, the eight extra hours would also be welcomed and would be added to the common planning time teachers already have through delayed starts times. This year, teachers had 13 hours of time in the mornings to meet.

“We have gone from nineteen last year to thirteen this year. We feel like thirteen is the right amount,” said Old Rochester Regional High School Principal Mike Devoll. “We are still supportive of half days for professional development.”

School Committee member James Higgins said he was open to adjusting the school calendar to meet changing needs.

“I think it’s a great idea that these calendars are not set in stone,” he said. “The constant tweaking of them is a good thing.”

The Joint School Committee will discuss the calendar again at its next meeting in May.