Frustrated with the limitations of the current seven-period day, FHS Principal Gary Martin plans to propose a new type of block scheduling for next year a chedule that could increase the number of credits students receive and lead to increased graduation requirements. “We’re going do a block schedule of some sort (next year),” said Martin. Teachers at Flathead are required, by contract, to be at the school for five periods a day in addition to a planning period. This year, half the teachers are here the first period of the day and the other half are here the last period of the day. “If we’re going to have school,” said Vice Principal Gene Boyle, “Let’s have it so everybody is here all of the time.” “I second that,” said Vice Principal Mr. Fusaro. “We have to look for a schedule that’s going to work best for the school, students and staff.” There are numerous options for block scheduling, so exactly what FHS’s block will look like has not been decided, said District 5 Superintendent Alan Hafer. However, the plan calling for a four-period day—with four classes per semester—has the best chance of being passed, Hafer said. This would make each class 90 minutes long, allowing more time for teacher and student interaction and decrease the amount of homework due to more time for homework during class. Along with less homework, students would receive a full credit after a semester because of the longer classes, said Hafer. Students have mixed feelings about a plan for a new schedule for next year. Some students are optimistic about a new schedule. “I think that will be all right,” said junior Nickolas Vlahou. “I’d want to give the other schedule a try.” Other students, however, do not like the idea of longer classes and only four classes a day. “I wouldn’t like it,” said junior Becca Welling. “It’s too much time in one class. I would get bored.” “I don’t like it,” said sophomore Cody Schreiner. “I think they should have the same schedule as they did last year.” A four-period day is not a new concept for Flathead’s new administration. Fusaro, Martin and Hafer all came from schools with a four-period day. “It’s a marvelous way to change the way teaching is,” said Hafer. The new schedule may prevent some of the problems that have resulted from the school-release privilege this year, said both Fusaro and Boyle. “The only problem with this year’s new schedule is some of the students are abusing the early release,” said Fusaro. “Some of the students hang around after school and wander the halls.” The problems Hafer sees with this year’s schedule include a large number of students only taking five or six classes, instead of a full seven periods. Hafer believes the solution for early graduation is to raise the number of credits needed to graduate to about 30 credits. “I encourage the high school to increase the credits for graduation,” said Hafer. “(We could) increase them in academic areas such as math, science, English, and social studies.” Martin agrees with Hafer about credit increases in next year’s schedule. With block scheduling, students would be able to acquire more credits each year. Instead of earning only six credits a year, students would be able to earn eight. “The amount of credits will be increased no matter what,” said Martin. The final decision on next year’s schedule will be made by the end of November. Martin, teachers and administrators are responsible for finalizing the new schedule, said Hafer. “I’m not going to tell the them what to do (about the scheduling), that’s not my job,” said Hafer. “We’ve got a lot of wonderful teachers and wonderful administrators and wonderful counselors at the high school and they know everything they know to make that decision based on the belief that all students can learn.” |
