High schools considering scheduling changes

A proposed trimester schedule at Avon Park High, a proposed alternating block schedule at Sebring High and some relief for teachers from the seven-period schedule are some of the issues to be discussed today at a workshop of the School Board of Highlands County.

A task force has been reviewing the seven-period schedule, implemented this school year at the secondary level, to find ways to lessen the impact on teachers.

"The teachers lost some planning time, so we have some recommendations to help accommodate the teachers and then also some ideas for next year," Director of Secondary Programs Ruth Heckman said Monday.

Previously teachers had time before school to conduct parent conferences or faculty meetings or prepare for the school day plus a planning period during the school day. Now the planning period is at the beginning of the day and they teach seven straight periods.

Depending on the school, they lost about 20 to 30 minutes of prep time, Heckman said.

So it's a matter of trying to figure out how to not necessarily get that time back, but accommodate all the things teachers have to do such as having parent conferences, meetings, collaborating, grading papers, getting grades inputted and working with students, she said.

Avon Park High is considering a trimester schedule - a school year divided into three parts with different classes in each part. LaBelle High School is using such a schedule.

Sebring High School is considering a modified version of Lake Placid High's "alternating block" schedule, which alternates between an A and B day with different classes.

Sebring High teacher and teacher's union president Steve Picklesimer said Sebring High teachers voted on three scheduling options and later voted on two scheduling options with no option receiving a definitive vote of approval.

Picklesimer believes all three high schools should have a similar schedule. He has suggested the trimester schedule.

"I don't know why the county office isn't providing some of the input, but we always hear from the county office that each school has its own special case and might need its own type of scheduling" he said.

The school board will discuss/review secondary scheduling at a workshop at 3 p.m., today, in the Garland Boggus Board Room, 426 School St., Sebring.

Also, Picklesimer commented on the state's "Race to the Top" grant proposal, which was supported by most school districts while being opposed by most local teachers unions.

"There are a lot of things in 'Race to the Top' I agree with, he said Monday. "The philosophy, the goals - they are lofty, they sound great. I've taught for 25 years, and I wish we could have enacted them to the effectiveness that we are hoping in any of those 25 years."

But, Florida has the longest "memorandum of understanding," which would require complete compliance in every single mandate, he said. If teachers can't agree on everything, then an impasse process may result like this year.

"We all know how that turned out," Picklesimer noted, referring to no pay and no step increase for teachers.

"We think that the amount of money we are being offered won't even cover the expenses that will come with Race to the Top," he added.

The Florida Department of Education reported that 60 of the state's 67 school district's, including Highlands, submitted a "memorandum of understanding" supporting the grant application.

Only five of those memorandums - Duval, Hamilton, Hillsborough, Jefferson and Sarasota - included the signature of the district's teachers union.

Through its grant proposal, Florida is trying to secure up to $700 million in federal funds.