Bell schedule discussion

Many parents and teachers at a public meeting addressed their concerns Wednesday night at Odessa High about a proposed extension of the high school bell schedule knowing ECISD administrators could make a decision for the 2008-'09 school year as soon as today.

ECISD's 4-by-4 committee has been reviewing a new high school bell schedule for the 2008-'09 school year due to a state law requiring an extra science and math to graduate. Next year's sophomores will have to have four maths and four sciences to graduate high school.

Committee members, who met with Permian parents and faculty Tuesday, have proposed two schedules of extending the school day to nine periods including lunch. One scenario calls for the high school day to start at 7:45 a.m.

ECISD interim superintendent Hector Mendez and Steve Brown, assistant superintendent for secondary education, 4-by-4 committee chairman Randy Talley and Alma Guerrero, assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction attended Wednesday's meeting, in which about 75 parents and teachers attended.

The committee members plan to meet with Mendez's leadership team today during staff planning to review the input and possibly make a decision.

The committee plans to make a decision on the bell schedule as soon as today, but at the latest Monday, Talley said.

Talley facilitated the 90-minute meeting Wednesday night at Odessa High.

Permian parent Kathleen Shaffer asked Mendez during the meeting if two to five days for a decision was enough time to fully consider the options for a bell schedule.

Mendez said the next step would be the planning meeting with his leadership team, then he would notify board members.

Several attendees emphasized to administrators that they need to consider implementing block scheduling back into the high schools.

Attendees like former OHS teacher Deanna Peden said she taught under block scheduling, and it proved to benefit students and teachers because it gave them extra time in the class for instruction and one-on-one help.

"I personally thought it was an excellent system," she said.

 Plus, she said, extending the school day cuts into tutoring time and everyone would be worn out at the end of the day with nine periods.

Mendez said the board wouldn't vote on the issue, which is an administrative decision.

David Munger, OHS Student Assistance Services counselor, encouraged administrators to keep in mind the at-risk students who wouldn't benefit from an extended school day or extra class periods because it would pile on work for them.

"Very few of us have eight bosses that we have to satisfy each day," he said.

OHS junior Vanessa Mata, 16, said many students don't want to be at school as it is and extending the day would only encourage students to make some bad choices.

"Kids are going to dropout ... I don't see the point of it," she said.

OHS parent D'on Paquette said she has a sophomore who's been on the right track to graduation but with an extended day she may not be able to take advantage of certain opportunities if required to take extra classes.

"I want her to enjoy high school," she said. "That's what it's all about."