By Susan Bromley
Staff Writer
Brandon Twp.- After less than two years of using a trimester system, school district officials are considering a return to semesters to save money.
‘Just like everything else, trimesters are on the table,? said Superintendent Lorrie McMahon. ‘We’re very pleased with (trimesters) for academics, but we were a good school before and will still be a good school if we change our schedule. It’s low on the list of changes, we don’t want to change it, but we may have to.?
McMahon and the finance committee discussed the issue briefly during a meeting Jan. 25.
The district changed to a trimester system at the high school at the start of the 2008 school year. The new system allows students to have three semesters per school year, with five classes each semester. The 5-hour schedule means more time in each class and the chance to have more electives throughout the year.
The previous 2-semester system gave students a 6-hour schedule with less time in each class and 12 classes per year, opposed to the current 15 classes. More teachers are required with the trimester system and a return to semesters could mean two fewer teachers, possibly saving the district about $150,000, McMahon said.
‘There are less classes over the entire year with the semester approach, so fewer teachers are needed,? she noted.
‘We don’t want to change to semesters, but we may need to look at it. We’ll continue talking about it at finance committee meetings. We’re not ready to take it to the board yet.?