By Mark O. Stern
School District 200 high school students will be in class about 15 fewer hours next year, the equivalent of cutting about three days out of the school year.
On twelve days during the 2012-2013 school year, high school classes will run on an abbreviated schedule, starting about 75 minutes later than normal. Buses will run at the regular times, but students will be placed in study halls until classes begin. Students will also have the option of “sleeping in” and skipping the study hall, but would have to provide their own transportation to get to school for the start of classes.
Teachers will spend the time on “structured professional development time at the elementary, middle, and high school level to implement common core standards and improve instruction,” according to the proposal adopted by the Board on Feb. 8.
According to Superintendent Brian Harris, the time is needed to allow all teachers of a given grade level or subject to collaborate to discuss instructional methods and student performance. This is intended to help teachers improve student performance to meet state academic standards.
Board Member JoAnn Coghill said the time would raise camaraderie among the teachers by allowing them to interact more. But some parents were not convinced that less time in class would improve student learning. Mike Fitch, 26w448 Interlachen Ln., who spoke at the meeting, said that “this is a pretty dramatic reduction in the level of instruction that students receive.” Mary Ann Vitone, 603 S. President St., a Wheaton North parent, stated that teachers of Advanced Placement classes are already pressed for time to cover all required material.
Two board members voted against the proposal, which passed 5-2. Board Member Jim Gambaiani cited statistics given to him by District staff, which he said indicated that Barrington and St. Charles High Schools, which have implemented similar programs, have had no improvement in the percentage of students meeting state academic standards over a five year period. Mr. Gambaiani said he was not convinced of the merits of the plan.
He was joined by Board Member Andrew Johnson, who said that in the private sector, “we’re able to stop and collaborate at any time; we’re not confined by these union restrictions.”
Dr. Harris told the Board that Elementary and middle school teachers will be able to conduct their meetings without altering the existing school day, but that could not easily be implemented at the high school level, and 45 minute weekly meetings would be the ideal solution, rather than 12 days spread throughout the school year. Mr. Johnson said he would prefer to negotiate the new teacher contract to provide for a weekly option.
