Semester-about program doesn’t pass in Brownsville
BROWNSVILLE — Following numerous comments from Fayette County Career & Technical Institute students and educators in the community, the Brownsville Area School board voted against a semester-about system between the institute and Brownsville Area High School.
The board voted 5-2 against the semester-about system. Board President Rocky Brashear and board member Stella Broadwater voted for it, while board members Andy Assad, Jeffery Bayne, Cheryl Terravecchia, Ronald Dellarose and Ros Gammon IV voted against it.
“The overwhelming feelings that have come to me in the last few weeks, this may not be the right way to go at this point,” Dellarose said.
Over the past several months, the board was considering a semester-about system between both facilities. Students at the institute are currently on a half-day-about, in which they split their time between both facilities.
Under the semester-about curriculum, the students would spend one semester at the institute and the other at the high school.
At the same time, the board was looking at a comprehensive plan to implement later, in which the students would receive all of their education in one setting.
However, Dr. Philip Savini, superintendent, said it could have been presented financial difficulties to the districts.
The commute to and from the school and institute was a factor for board members, who feel that students should be spending more of that time in the classroom.
Educators and students alike spoke out against the proposed change, explaining that the students involved in the current plan are functioning better in the learning process. Senior Marcus Crowe is concerned switching schools each semester will affect his academics.
“It’s going to mess with our credits and our learning,” he said.
Other students agreed and contended that their test scores would be negatively affected if the district considered a semester-about.
According to Rachel McCloy, curriculum coordinator, the students would have the opportunity to receive more credit hours in the semester-about program, receiving four credits as opposed to three credits.
Although Brashear voted for the system, he said the residents who opposed the program should have addressed their concerns with him earlier. A letter from a resident didn’t reach his desk until Thursday, he said. Board members have been discussing the possibility of a semester-about for months, Bayne added.
In other business, the board recognized more than 50 students for the Superintendent’s Award. Students were selected based on academics, athletics and their involvement in the school, Savini said.
“We are very proud of our students and it gets better and better,” Savini said. “We have three nationally recognized programs in our school this year, and it just goes to show that competitions are stimulating our students to do better. So, I’m just very proud of where we are.”