Caledonia Argus

School board seeks staff input on four-period day

Posted: 11/26/02

by Andrew Miller
Argus News Reporter

A proposed switch from the four-period day to a seven-period or eight-period day at Caledonia High School was discussed by the ISD #299 school board on Tuesday, November 19.

Superintendent Jim Tool suggested to the board that, if a change in the schedule is made, it should be in favor of the eight-period day over the seven-period day. The eight-period day has several distinct advantages, he said, all of which should be considered when a final decision is made. With eight-periods instead of seven, class sizes will be smaller, a greater variety of electives will be offered, and the flexibility of block scheduling, which the school currently uses, will still be available, since two periods in an eight-period day are equivalent to one period in a four-period day. An eight-period day is compatible with the four-period day in that credits earned under the four-period day can be easily calculated in terms of the eight-period day, and because the school will be able to offer the same number of sections and electivesñ with the seven-period day, there would be 20% fewer sections of classes than there would be under the eight-period day.

ìWe could still do blocks by putting two periods together, and it allows us to offer the same number of sectionsî Tool said in reference to the eight-period day. ìThe eight-period day matches up the best (with the four-period day) and it allows us to still schedule blocks; the transition between blocks and the eight-period day is fairly easy.î

Though the seven-period day is less frenetic and hurried for students than the eight-period day, with an additional six minutes per class period, complications with transferring credits from a four-period day to a seven-period day, as well the reduction of classes offered, are the essential barriers to implementing a seven-period day.

ìI donít think it could be supported,î Tool said about the seven-period day. ìItís going to put the kids in a terrible position and itís just not a very do-able thing. Seven periods just canít be done.î

ìWeíre tied to our historical precedent,î Principal Brian Doty interjected. ìIf we were to start from scratch, seven periods wouldnít be a problem,î but the board must take stock of the current four-period day.

Whatever decision the board makes, Tool advised, it will not be unanimously accepted by everyone. The solution, he said, lies in finding the schedule which is the most amenable.

ìThis is one thing youíre not going to make everybody happy about,î Tool told the board. ìIf youíre going to pick between one or the other, fall on the right pitchfork.î

Doty agreed, stating, ìup to this point, weíve never been across the board satisfied.î Doty mentioned that, in assessing which schedule is best suited to CHS, three factors should be taken into account: how a certain schedule will mesh with the grad standards program, how it will affect the budget, and how the change will have effects politically. He added that the complaints heís received regarding the four-period day ìare in line with whatever is said nationally,î that problems experienced with block scheduling at CHS are pandemic to all schools with block scheduling.

Doty made clear that he was not suggesting a course of action for the board, but pointed out that, since the adoption of the four-period day five years ago, CHSí average ACT scores have increased each year, rising above the national average and gradually approximating the Minnesota average. Also, he mentioned that the staff have been clear in stating that the students do not want an eight-period day.

Members of the board responded with praise for the idea of an eight-period day, but worried that eight periods might be tough for students to handle.

ìIf you go to an eight-period day,î Dave Klinski mentioned, ìyour kids will be going home with homework like they havenít had before.î

ìBoth students and staff have to work hard,î Chuck Schulte added, noting that the eight-period day can be very taxing.

Board support for the eight-period day, however, was overtly forthcoming.

ìThe seven-period day doesnít sound reasonable, it doesnít sound like it would work,î said Bruce Bulman.

ìIf itís not going to be four, itís going to be eight,î said Suzanne Roesler. ìWeíre not doing the seven periods, itís either going to be eight or a combo of eight and four.î

CHS staff met on Thursday, November 21 to discuss this matter and determine which option was the most tenable. Input from staff will be taken into consideration when the board votes on the issue. Superintendent Tool said that, if a change in scheduling is to be made, a consensus should be reached no later than January, so as to avoid complications that might arise in the course registration process this spring if a schedule hadnít been agreed upon.

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