Next year FHS will see a new old schedule. The District 5 School board voted Dec. 2 to go back to a six-period day — a schedule similar to what FHS used in 1996-97. The new schedule will consist of 57-minute periods with an early bird. But the new schedule will be short-lived — a new schedule will probably be used for the 1999-2000 school year. The board voted 6-5 to eliminate the seven-period day. All members of the school board who supported the six-period plan said they did so due to a lack of funds for the seven-period schedule . “I was originally in favor of the seven-period day,” said school board chair Margie Simpson, who voted to return to the six-period day. “There is not enough money to pay for (seven periods) without massive cuts.” According to District 5 Business Manager Todd Watkins, the district would have to hire five to 10 new teachers for next year at a cost to the district of $30,000 each. This would cost the district between $150,000-$300,000 to hire the necessary teachers. According to Watkins, the money needed to accommodate the seven-period day was to be proposed in the April elections as an extra expense. “If we waited until April to find out whether or not there were enough teachers it would have been a scheduling mess,” said guidance counselor Jerry Boschee. “We would have had to re-register every student” if the measure didn’t pass. The current agreement between the district and the Kalispell Education Association states that each full-time teacher instructs five periods a day with one prep period. Each teacher is required to arrive 30 minutes before their first class and stay 30 minutes after their final period. Under this arrangement, there have been only half the teachers in the building first or seventh periods. “With only half of the teachers here first or seventh period there are not enough to accommodate all the students.” said Simpson . “If we have seven periods then every student should be able to be there every period.” Supporters of the seven-period schedule cited the time already invested in the seven-period day and the inability of rural students and athletes to attend early-bird classes as two problems with the schedule. The six-period day also won’t allow sophomores to take world history with two electives. The seven-period day was first examined about seven years ago according to school board member Steve Berg. FHS Principal Gary Martin believes after nearly 10 years, a workable schedule should be possible. “In 10 years you could become a doctor; that is a long time to study a schedule,” said Martin. “I would like to see a schedule that will work for the students, staff — and last.” Another aspect of the six-period day board members objected to was the early-bird. Early-birds would create problems for early-morning athletics, such as swimming and wrestling, because athletes would have to choose between early-bird classes and athletics. “It would be difficult for the rural students to get into school on time for the early bird especially, in the winter,” said school broad member Janette Braaten. “In the winter it is dangerous for students to be out before the road crews have had a chance to clear the roads.” |
