High school considers shift to block schedule

Whitefish High School will likely have a new block schedule involving longer class periods next year, but exactly what format it will take remains to be determined.  

It's a change that was met with mixed feelings by teachers, parents and students during more than an hour of public comment at Tuesday's school board meeting. Some said they supported the proposed plan, while several said it would be damaging to the school's music department.

Band director Mark McCrady said the music department would be “collateral damage” if the change goes forward.

“Music classes only meeting three times per week is not enough,” he said. “If a student is absent on Friday then we don't have contact with them for five days. A 'yes' vote for this does not represent the support of our programs.”

Parent Joan Vetter Ehrenberg said learning needs to go beyond just passing a test, and that requires longer class periods.

“My family is very passionate about music,” she said. “We also value science and collaborative learning. I don't think we can bring classes together for special projects with the schedule we have now.”

The school district is considering a move to some type of block schedule, which allows for fewer classes per day while increasing the individual class time.

Currently, the school operates with seven class periods per day lasting about 50 minutes. Under a block schedule, students generally have four classes per day that last about 90 minutes. They attend those classes on a rotating basis for a total of eight periods.

Whitefish High School principal Kerry Drown said block scheduling provides more opportunities for instruction and the music department could operate on a modified schedule to better accommodate its needs.

“The schedule we have now promotes rote learning,” he said. “Are we about getting through a lot of material rather than deeper learning? Then the schedule we have is fine. I don't feel comfortable saying that's our purpose.”

Drown presented a comparison of the two schedules. A traditional schedule requires teachers to teach between five and six classes per day while working with 100 to 150 students. In a block schedule, teacher have up to four classes a day and reduce the student numbers to about 75 per teacher per day. The block schedule would allow for teachers to not only have preparation periods, Drown said, but also have collaborative planning time that isn't available in a traditional schedule.

Parent Kathleen Woodward questioned if block scheduling would be an improvement.

“How can students be expected to pay attention for 90 minutes versus 50?” she asked. “If a student misses one day that is like missing two days with a block schedule.”

Student Rmi Strauser said he's concerned because he is taking multiple music classes and is considering majoring in music after high school.

“I might not be able to get into all the music classes I want to take,” he said.

Choir director Nicole Sanford said she would be in favor of a suggested modified block schedule that would allow for some days with the block style and some days with a traditional schedule.

“Our desire is to create a win-win schedule that works for all departments,” she said. “A solution that allows for extended learning times for others, as well as maintains the quality of each program.”

A half dozen teachers addressed the school board saying an extended learning schedule would benefit their classrooms.

English teacher Nikki Reed said longer class periods are needed as students are asked to tackle projects and dig deeper.

“Students are being asked to synthesize a lot of information and we need to help students think in longer periods of time,” she said. “To do projects and more hands-on learning we need longer blocks of time.”

History teacher Jacqueline Gaertner agreed that extended periods would open up opportunities that weren't available with the traditional schedule.

“The teachers have ideas to integrate our classrooms, but we need time,” she said. “I've spent 19 years teaching in an isolated classroom and I don't want to do that anymore.”

After hearing from the standing-room-only crowd, the school board unanimously approved a motion that says, “The school board supports efforts to continue to explore and create the most viable model possible for extended teaching and learning times at the high school to be implemented in 2014-15.”

Trustee Shawn Watts said having his own children be part of the Whitefish music programs has made him personally support music education.

“I would not support anything that would damage — let alone destroy — the music program,” he said. “What I am willing to support is a continuing conversation about this. I do believe we need longer learning opportunities, but there's work to be done.”

As part of the motion, the board also approved a set process as it moves forward. First, a student preregistration process will take place to see if a block schedule is viable based on staffing, budget and other factors. Second, input sessions with students, parents and teachers are planned. Third, administrative engagement with the music department and other department to seek solutions to concerns would take place.

Trustee Dave Fern said the board is committed to the music program and wants to find a solution to the issue.

“One department is saying we're uncomfortable,” Fern said. “We need to dedicate ourselves to figuring out this problem.”

The proposal came as a surprise to parents and students, who told the board they deserved more than “two days” notice about the proposal.

“You're ramming this through,” parent Kirk Dunlap said. “We weren't involved in this process and now you're getting ready to push this through.”

“You have concerned parents and scared students because two days notice wasn't enough,” parent Ross Strauser added. “The communication should have happened months ago involving all of us.”

Trustee Nick Polumbus said he is concerned about the process that brought the schedule change to the board meeting.

“I thought this step tonight was a report on where we are at and to begin talking with the community about this,” he said. “We've jumped the process a little bit.”

Watts agreed saying the school district failed in communicating its plans.

“We need to do some better things to make sure people are better informed,” he said.

Trustee Shawn Tucker dismissed the idea that the board was attempting to be “sneaky.”

“We're bringing this to you because we believe this is the future,” he said. “The students are our No. 1 concern and making sure they are ready for college, career and citizenship.”