Wauseon school board delays high school schedule change

Confusion, lack of information led to decision to delay change; BOE will hold informational meetings during year

By DAVID J. COEHRS

Expositor Features Editor

Continued questions and concerns over a proposed seven-period day at Wauseon High School have convinced Superintendent Marc Robinson to recommend postponing its implementation until the 2011-12 school year.

At a school board meeting held Jan. 28, Robinson instead suggested disseminating detailed information about the change through upcoming board meetings, classroom visits and public forums. He said far too many questions remain among the high school staff, the students and their parents to initiate the change next school year.

The school board began discussing the proposal in December. Robinson said he planned to recommend it at the regular school board meeting held Jan. 11, then again at the meeting on Jan. 28. He scratched the idea both times when it became apparent that people were confused.

"Ultimately, based on a whole lot of questions, and certainly with the line of those questions, I knew there was a lot of inaccuracy out there," Robinson said. "The administrative team didn't explain it well enough to the board or the high school or the parents."

The proposed change in the schedule has caused jitters, especially over how the Ohio CORE curriculum and legislative mandates for education would be affected.

One of those concerns centers on whether one less school period will affect a CORE mandate that every science student have access to a lab. Since only eight labs are presently held for 24 sections of science taught, the school district is already in violation.

Robinson said, in fact, that switching to a seven-period schedule will expand class times and allow for more labs.

He said WHS can delete one period and still maintain that and other state mandates necessary for the Class of 2014 and beyond.

"It's a complex issue with the Ohio CORE curriculum and all the mandates that it confronts school districts with," he said. "So if there's a perception that we're in any way decreasing the rigor, the big picture is not completely understood. We are attempting to be pro-active and come up with the best way to meet this mandate for all students."

To that end, future board meetings will offer segments of 15 to 20 minutes to discuss the schedule change and relay the facts. The school board will also set up informative classroom discussions for students led by high school counselors and public forums for parents.

"Very clearly, it can work out. We have to take away the apprehensions of all the people who don't understand," Robinson said.

Board President Sandy Griggs knows the move to a seven-period schedule is critical. But after three or four informational meetings with high school administrators the details still seem fuzzy.

"If I can't explain it, I can't support it. I don't know enough about it yet," Griggs said.

The plan has been touted by enthusiastic high school administrators for only a few weeks, so questions about its effectiveness continue to arise.

"The next few months are going to be very critical in getting this understood," Griggs said. "I think it's critical that we do this. I think it's going to be very beneficial to the kids."

She said board members agreed it was best to take time with the proposal. "Wauseon schools don't railroad people into things. We want them to understand what we're doing," she said.

The change will allow the high school to meet CORE mandates that present time constraints don't allow, said Bette Hudnut, the school district's curriculum director.

More time per subject is necessary in order for students to meet CORE mandates, such as four math credits that include Algebra II.

"The rigor that's being established is why we need more instructional time in our classrooms," Hudnut said. "A seven-period day allows for more instructional time. It allows the teachers to go into depth more in content."

Presentations are being developed that will clarify why the high school needs to adopt the new schedule, she said.

"You can hear it on the news with other states. The students beginning with the graduating class of 2014 - more is being required of them than in the past," Hudnut said.

WHS Principal Bill Hanak formed the administrative team with Hudnut, Keith Leatherman, Rick Brink and Pam Baltzy. He expressed surprise they haven't received more inquiries about the schedule.

"We want to make sure that we have an opportunity to talk to all our stakeholders ... so that everyone is 100 percent, at least in the knowledge of why we're doing it," he said.

Parents he has spoken with are concerned one less school period will lessen their children's opportunity to earn enough credits for graduation.

"I don't think it will have any impact at all," Hanak said. " (And) I would much rather take the time to answer any and all questions. Change like this you don't just to do it. Everyone gets more instructional time."

Robinson said there will never be unanimity on the topic of a schedule change "but you certainly want everybody to have the answers to their questions."

Hudnut said, like it or not, the Ohio CORE curriculum is changing the landscape of high schools.