Officials Examining Implementing Eight-Period Day – Again

District officials are re-examining implementing an eight-period day in both high schools and all three middle schools.

Superintendent Ray Gonzalez said administrators are “looking into a variety of options in which we could implement an eight-period day.”

A presentation on the possible change will be given at one of the board of education meetings in February.

Gonzalez said there are “a lot of factors that will go into our decision.”

Some parents at the most recent meeting said they are concerned that such a move could affect special education students and the number of electives offered.

“Anything we do, we’re going to improve the educational experience of our students,” Gonzalez said.

The board because of the then-new 2 percent increase cap on publically funded budgets. The board .

Principal Scot Beckerman mentioned in March several possible changes that could occur at the high schools should the changes go into effect:

• Class times would increase by six minutes, from 42 to 48. The six additional minutes mean students would receive 1,080 more minutes per class, almost 26 extra periods, of each course in an academic year.
• The number of study halls would be reduced. It was suggested that the schools move to a “half-year” study hall schedule to accommodate for electives.
• The humanities and freshman seminar graduation requirements would be eliminated.
• Going from two years of language instruction to one.

Beckerman had also said that by decreasing the number of classes students have the opportunity to take high-level students will not be able to fit as many upper level courses into their schedules.

Another consideration mentioned would be changing the number of credits high school students need to graduate from 135 to 120.

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