Where’s the research? Will I have more homework? Who picks classes? Will these cuts be sufficient, or will you need to make more next year?
Many parents and students came to Monday’s meeting at Lake Orion High School armed with a list of questions about the new modified block schedule set to begin when the first school bells ring next year.
With revenue dwindling and huge state funding cuts looming in the not-so-distant future, administrators said they’re implementing changes in an effort to cut costs.
The result: fewer teachers will educate the same number of students.
Under the modified block schedule, approximately 13 teachers will be sliced from the payroll, saving the district about $800,000 annually, administrators said.
The remaining teachers will make up for staffing cuts by teaching an additional 45 minutes per day, and prepping for classes 45 minutes less. Teachers currently have a 90-minute prep period each day, while all LOHS students attend four 90-minute “block” classes.
For many students, the current schedule won’t change; others will take three block and two 45 minute “skinny” classes.
No determination has been made about which classes will run as blocks, and which will be skinny, but administrators said they’ll make those decisions based on individual class curriculum not by department, once students make class requests in February for next year.
At Monday’s meeting, many parents voiced concerns about the lack of research to support the plan. Administrators admitted they knew of no other schools implementing such a program.
In 2006, a committee of board members, parents, teachers and others explored a number of cost-saving plans and ultimately settled on the modified block schedule.
“Our decision was based on the committee’s research and recommendation,” said Darin Abbasse, associate principal. “This is the option that reserves more of the current schedule for students.”
But, like many others, LOHS parent Kris Murphy was concerned.
“I know it will work because our teachers will make it work,” she said. “But they looked at this plan a few years ago and scrapped it. Why are they bringing it back now? Where’s the research? Why do our kids have to be the guinea pigs?”
Associate Principal Chris Bell, who lives in the district with his wife and children, however, was optimistic.
“I’ll have a freshman in the building next year,” he said. “And another one the year after that. If we didn’t think this was a good idea, we wouldn’t be doing it.”
Questions and answers from Monday’s meeting were recorded and will be posted on the district’s website. Watch the Lake Orion Review for updates as the school year progresses.