My boys get a 20-25 minute recess after lunch and my middle school daughter gets a 15-20 minutes recess on really nice days (we tease the teachers that it's more for them than the kids!). There are several parents that think the kids need more time outside when the weather is good but never hear a complaint when the snow falls! lol

On the other hand too, gym classes are often held outside. We are also close enough to downtown Denver that we have stayed in because of air quality issues!

Our grades 2-5 kids get one formal recess per day, at lunch. The lower el kids get 25 minutes, the upper el, 20 minutes. The state does not count those minutes as instructional time when determining the length of our school day. Our teachers have the option of taking their classes out any additional time during the day, and those minutes ARE included in the class length because the classroom teacher is supervising the kids, not a paraprofessional. Our students also get s 30 minute gym periods per week.

Are all schools in your district doing so well that they don't need more instructional time more then they need another recess? Perhaps an exception to the rule for well performing schools would be a better solution then just adding more recesses. If you feel strongly about this and have facts to back up your position, get some friends and go to the school board. Personally, our kids have just one recess after lunch in grades 3-5. They have gym every sixth day.

I think a huge portion of kids play team sports/dance/gymnastics after school and that should be taken into account. Just try to schedule an evening event and see how many kids are too busy to participate.

Our Elementary Schools here have a morning recess (15 min), lunch with a recess, afternoon recess (15 min), and a chance for each class to earn PAT time (extra minutes of recess every Friday). Our kids only go to PE once per week. I am also concerned with obesity and the health concerns it causes in our children. Our cafeterias serve high fat, low nutrition food and then the schools want education stressed not healthy lifestyles. It just doesn't compute!!

A lot of the Southern Nevada schools have done away with recess aside from lunch. My son changed schools a month ago and I found out today that they do not have a morning recess.
Recently at our State convention, the proposed and now passed resolution to call for support of recess included statistics that academic achievement and success are enhanced, that it is vital to their social and emotional needs, provides for alone time away from class mates, unstructured play leads to creativity and exploration, 40% of 5-8 year olds suffer a 40% cardiac risk for obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and an inactive lifestyle, and also that the United States Army acknowledges the need for a 10 minute break during every hour of a training session to achieve greater results. We as a state are really going to push for legislation that requires recesses, not just for elementary but older students as well.
My son's teacher explained (as have other teachers who are within schools that do this) that instructional time has to be increased to include everything they need to teach them. Fine, sure, but the school my son left is performing above average nationally and they have 3 recesses. how are they doing it??
My son's teacher says instead, he takes them out for a "learning walk" in the morning to make up for the lost recess.

I'm not sure if this helps, but the kids at our school in northern Jersey get 1/2 hour lunch, then 1/2 recess right after. I remember it being that way when I was in school in upstate NY as well.
Good Luck!