MIDDLETOWN — Concerned staff members gathered Wednesday night to address the Middletown Unified School District”s (MUSD) Board of Education about a possible scheduling switch.
The discussion occurred at the Middletown multi-use room during the board”s second regular meeting of the month.
Concern had arisen after school officials conducted a brainstorming session to find ways to save elective classes from being eliminated at Middletown High School (MHS) following staff position cutbacks, said district Superintendent Korby Olson.
“We”re trying to figure out how to do it in the budget constraints we have,” Olson said.
One idea suggested was to eliminate the four-by-four block scheduling system that”s been in use for three years at MHS, and revert back to a seven-period schedule.
Olson explained the differences between the two systems, saying a seven-period schedule would let kids choose seven classes for the entire year. The four-by-four block schedule is similar to a college schedule because students choose four classes for the fall semester and then choose four different classes for the spring semester.
“The seven-period day doesn”t increase electives but it does make it easier to use the staff we have,” Olson said. “We were looking at other options and that was just one.”
The idea brought out more than 40 people, with staff members asking the board to keep the current block schedule system.
Dean of Students Thad Owens said since switching to the block schedule system, there has been a 27.3-percent decrease in disciplinary problems.
Owens said switching to a seven-period day would give students more chances to interact between classes, which could mean more chances for getting into trouble.
In all, six people addressed the board regarding the loss of electives and possible scheduling switches.
Board member Sandy Tucker expressed frustration about the possible schedule switch being discussed because it was one idea introduced during a brainstorming session intended to find ways to add more electives with what the district has currently available.
Tucker said she was concerned about the loss of electives because she has a child who attends the high school.
Board member Yvette Sloan asked the board and the attending staff if a committee could be formed with teachers, district office staff and two board members.
The committee will present its ideas at the next board meeting, which will be held April 13 at 7 p.m. at the Cobb Elementary multi-use room.
Kevin N. Hume can be reached at kevin.n.hume@gmail.com or call directly 263-5636 ext. 14.
