Board members question scheduling system
It’s too close to the start of the school year to change the current block scheduling system used at the high school/middle school, but some board members are concerned that the system is not working. High School Principal Rick Gates supports block scheduling, a system in which students’ daily schedule varies with four, 85-minute classes each day, with no study halls.
Gates said a lot of teachers support the block scheduling and students like it. He also said the system saves the district $200,000 to $400,000 in book purchases.
He said students’ SAT and achievement tests have also improved since the system was adopted five or six years ago and the district has served as a pilot program for many other districts interested in adopting block scheduling.
But several board members questioned the scheduling process, saying some teachers do not teach for 85 minutes and allow students to do homework, fool around or even sleep in class.
President Andy Dorsey said he has two children in the high school and knows that some teachers are only teaching 35 minutes of the 85-minute class and then passing out worksheets and telling students to do homework.
Gates did not dispute Dorsey’s complaint and said he will work on that.
“We know who is weaker,” he said. “The social studies department I know teaches (the entire 85 minutes) but I know there are some other departments we will need to work with.”
Roseann Markovich said if the scheduling isn’t working after all these years then the system just doesn’t work.
“It all comes down to accountability,” Markovich said. “If the teachers aren’t held accountablem, then it won’t work.”
“I don’t want to hear that students are sleeping and sitting on desks and goofing off,” Markovich said. “If teachers can’t handle their class then they shouldn’t be there.”
But Gates said that disciplinary problems of that sort are most likely happening under the supervision of a substitute teacher.
Dr. Gerry Grant also supports the block scheduling.
“We see it work in other schools. That’s why I support it,” Grant said.
Grant said that research has proven the system to be beneficial. She said she will have Gates gather statistics from their own school district to prove its worth.
Dorsey asked about teachers’ prep periods, which are also 85 minutes long.
“What are the prep periods for, to do what they want or to prepare for class?” Dorsey asked.
Gates said prep periods are essentially to prepare for class but at the discretion of the teacher.
Dorsey suggested cutting the prep periods in half giving teachers 35 minutes to prepare for class and using the remainder of the time for tutoring students.
“Many of the kids in the district are falling behind, could we not provide tutoring (during this prep time)?” Dorsey asked.
Gates said that issue is something that can be looked at.
Resident Nena Kaminsky told the board if they tried to do away with block scheduling they would have a fight on their hands.
Dorsey said at this point the board will be monitoring the scheduling.
“It’s too late this year (to change scheduling). There are some board members who are ready to change this now, we may have to look for a change next year,” Dorsey said.