Small Town News

AYP motivation may lead to consideration of ending block schedule at BTW

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Changing the format for class schedules at Booker T Washington (BTW) High School is under consideration.

This past year the school operated with four 90-minute blocks that have a different set of classes for each semester. Two years ago, the school utilized a modified block schedule.

Macon County School District Superintendent Dr. Gwen Moore pointed out the last time BTW made Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) three years ago, seven periods were in use.

Tuskegee Institute Middle School (TIMS) and Notasulga High School (NHS) use block schedules. Both have achieved AYP using those schedules.

During its Thursday, May 20 meeting, the Macon County Board of Education (MCBOE) heard about BTW's schedule as several students and band teacher Jeffrey Hughley expressed concern about the possible change from block scheduling.

Main points against going to the seven-period format is that so many class changes during the day are disruptive and tend to cut back on actual teaching time. Seven classes create an undue burden with the possibility of homework for six or seven courses each evening, as opposed to homework for four classes. There's also the potential for having three or more exams on a given day with so many classes.

A point in favor of a school day with more classes is that when standard testing and exit exams are given information is fresher in students' minds. In the case of block scheduling, it may have been a few months since a student had been in a math or science class before the testing.

The board met in a called meeting Tuesday (May 25) morning to consider additional personnel matters. With the end of the school term, school system employees must be informed if they will be retained. That primarily effects non-tenured employees with only three years in the system as a probationry period. During its Thursday, May 20 meeting:

The board recognized students that had been awarded scholarships and honored for artwork.

The board agreed to allow the superintendent to look into possible financing and means to address air conditioning and heating problems at BTW High School and the old portion of Tuskegee Public Schodl. One study recommended replacing all the pipes for central heat and air at BTW, but the estimated cost is an almost prohibitive $5 million.

One option is to use individual units, such as heat pumps, for classrooms -- which should cost much less.

The board went into executive session to consider personnel actions. Moore said no change in the system's seven principals is anticipated.



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© 2011 The Tuskegee News Tuskegee, Alabama. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from DAS.

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