ECISD: Bell schedule stays the same

Odessa High and Permian will remain on their current bell schedules for the 2008-'09 school year while officials continue to review expansions to the zero hours, summer school and virtual high school offerings, ECISD interim superintendent Hector Mendez said in a news conference Thursday.

Mendez said the bell schedule would continue to be monitored, along with student success.

Ector County Independent School District officials formed a committee in October to review how to address a state law calling for a fourth year of science and math for students to graduate high school. This law affects this year's ninth-graders, the class of 2011.

The 4-by-4 committee proposed extending the school day at the high schools to offer more classes for students, but many parents and teachers said a nine-period school day (including lunch) wouldn't be beneficial.

ECISD 4-by-4 chairman Randy Talley said whenever a decision's made it's essential to gain the support of people who would implement the plan, and many parents and teachers didn't support the idea of a nine-period day.

"We realized that the nine-period day would not be successful without their support," Talley said after the news conference.

Mendez said district officials would look at offering more courses in summer school and the zero hour slots, which happen about an hour before school starts at 8:45 a.m.

"This school year is about to end, and we need to start making preparations for next year," he said.

Steve Brown, assistant superintendent for secondary education, said the district would decide zero hour courses based on student demand. But the options could range among any core classes, like math or science.

Administrators also plan to evaluate adding more credit opportunities at the junior highs for eighth-graders, Mendez said.

High school student schedules will continue to end school at 3:45 p.m., Mendez said.

Talley said the 4-by-4 committee met with Mendez's leadership team Thursday morning to discuss the input received from various parent, teacher and public meetings.

Concerns about current sophomores, juniors or seniors not being affected by the 4-by-4 legislation and how many students wouldn't be successful with an extra class period played a big part in the committee's decision, Talley said. 

"It was obvious after our meetings with faculty and parents that we should not go forward with the nine-period day," Talley said.

Permian parent Brenda Chavez, who attended both parent meetings with administrators, said ECISD officials seemed to take into consideration the input received from meeting attendees and others in the community.

Chavez, who also substitute teaches in ECISD, said leaving the schedule the way it is would allow officials time to evaluate the possibilities for adding more opportunities to zero hour, virtual high school, junior high classes and summer school.

She said an extended day wouldn't necessarily help all students, and she thought administrators deciding to keep the schedule as is would benefit more people.

"They did listen to us parents, and most of all they listened to our children," Chavez said.

Chavez's son, Zach, is a junior at Permian, who plans to take four years of science and math regardless, Brenda Chavez, said.

Her son wants to take extra courses to keep up with his math skills to prepare for college engineering courses, she said, noting that's been her son's plan all along.

"It doesn't really change anything," she said.

OHS junior Amy Addington, 17, said Thursday keeping the current schedule works better for many students, who are already tired without extending the school day.

"If we have a longer day, we're more stressed out when we get home," she said.

OHS sophomore Adilene Bustillos, 16, said an extended day would be too much for most students, in which many people she knows said they'd consider dropping out if the schedule changed.

With added course loads, she said, more students won't want to attend class.

"They're going to want to come less if there's more," Adilene said.