WHS looks at converting to block schedule

The Winslow High School is considering changing to block scheduling, Principal Doug Watson told parents during a meeting Jan. 30 at the Student Union.

Watson explained that the meeting was to garner concerns and desires from parents before moving forward with the idea.

In the Bulldog Messenger, Watson noted that the school was "in a process that began back in October, teachers and administration have visited schools, had guest speakers and researched into various schedules."

Watson explained to parents that block scheduling divides the school day into much bigger chunks of time and there are a number of ways to schedule it.

There are only two schools in Northeastern Arizona not on block scheduling, Holbrook High School and Sinagua High School in Flagstaff.

Watson noted that the teachers had been polled, and approximately 82 percent were in favor.

Watson told parents that when block scheduling was first started, a lot of schools converted with out planning.

"We want to cover all the bases," Watson said. "We want to do it right."

WHS requires students to have 22 credits for graduation. As it stands, students taking the minimum number of classes each year, would get 24 credits or six per year. Of those, 13 are required and 11 are electives.

Watson explained that college bound students need 19 required courses for admission and have a maximum of five electives.

Under a block system, he noted, students could have up to 32 credits. The principal explained the high school requirements would be increased somewhat, but that a college bound student could take up to 13 electives and end up with a more well-rounded education.

Classes are cut to around 20 minutes on occasions when the periods have to be shortened. This is one reason that the school is looking into block scheduling. In block scheduling, regular teachers would still have at least 60 minutes of class time.

"The end result for both the previous issues is that the students spend more time learning and less time doing other things."

Although there are advantages to block scheduling, such as allowing additional elective classes and more flexibility in the school day schedule, there are also downsides, such as when the block is used improperly and it has negative effects on certain classes, such as music.

An example of a 4 by 4 block schedule would be four classes every day for one semester, or 90 days.

In an AB block, students would take four classes one day and four classes the next, alternating each day. It would take two semesters, or 180 days to finish the class.

During the parent meeting, it was mentioned that block scheduling resembles college schedules, and they would be a great step to prepare college bound students for college life.

Another issue Watson said could be worked into block scheduling was tutor time to help those students who are struggling.

When asked if the teachers would be ready to teach on a block schedule, Watson noted that they are not, but that training would be offered.

He explained that he would take the information garnered at the parent meeting and put together a proposal for parents at the next meeting, scheduled Feb. 6.

Results of that meeting will be published in the Feb. 15 edition of the Mail.

During the Winslow School Board's Feb. 1 meeting, the board:

* Approved resignations from Delphine Ethelbah-Special Education Aide at Bonnie Brennan; Carrie Acunia-Special Education Aide, Bonnie Brennan; and Sharon Kalisz-School nurse, Bonnie Brennan.

* Approved retirement of Earlene Kerr-first grade teacher, Thomas Jefferson.

* Accepted donations of $250 from Jeffrey Hartman to the WHS wrestling team; $316 from Wal-Mart for the WHS volleyball club; and $1,000 from Wal-Mart for the Washington Elementary School library.

* Approved curriculum for the Grand Canyon Experience course for Spring 2006.

* Approved out of state travel for one administrator and four board members to attend NSBA Conference in Chicago, Ill.; and one staff member to attend Education Technology Consortium Users' Conference in Laughlin, Nev.

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