Published: November 13, 2009 03:31 pm      

Avon gets feedback about potential schedule change

AVON — School officials here met with about 65 parents Thursday night to get their input on a proposed schedule change at Avon High School.

“I think that (the parents) were very receptive,” Principal Rick Adcock said. “We thought that we had to do a good job of explaining the issues to them.”

Though the high school is fond of its 70-minute, five-class period day, Adcock admitted that there were gaps in the school’s current trimester design.

“We like doing five periods for 70 minutes,” he said. “The issues are the gaps left there. A student can take the first half of a class in the first trimester and not take the second half until the third trimester.”

In order to solve that dilemma, school officials are proposing a block schedule that will rotate over three days. Students will have a class two out of three days for the duration of the year.

For example, a student may take a 70-minute math class five days a week during the first trimester, and then switch to some type of science class for five days a week during the second trimester.

Under the new plan, a student could take a 70-minute math class three days a week and a 70-minute science class two days a week for the first trimester; then a 70-minute science class three days a week and a 70-minute math class two days a week for the second trimester.

Under this plan, the school will be able to maintain its 70-minute class duration. It will also allow for the school day to begin at 8 a.m., rather than 7:30 a.m., to allow for teacher prep time.

“The research shows strongly that beginning classes later is beneficial,” Adcock said. “This way, we do not have to change our structure to get it done.”

Adcock plans to have another parent meeting in December and says he thinks there will be a final decision on the schedule change before Christmas break.

He said the schedule change is necessary to coincide with the opening of the school’s new Advanced Learning Center, set to open next fall. Adcock said that he expects the Advanced Learning Center to play a key role in the students’ future.

“The whole idea is for (the students) to build an ownership in their learning,” he said. “When they leave high school, there will be no teachers. They will have to be more self-motivated.”

Adcock said 90 percent of AHS seniors go on to post-high school training or education.



ryan.palencer@flyergroup.com