Letters To The Editor

Four-period day reduces choices

There is a proposal before the Central Valley School Board to vote on a four-period day/block scheduling.

This four-period school day proposal would use three grading periods with four classes on a daily basis as opposed to the current two grading periods with the six classes daily.

Every teacher must have a “prep” period, where they are not teaching any classes but are available in the school. Under the proposed block-scheduling, teachers would be teaching three classes a day and nine classes a year instead of the 10 they’re teaching with semester scheduling. This 10 percent loss in productivity will result in fewer classes offered.

Therefore, the schools have proposed increasing the maximum occupancy in a single class from 30 to 35 students, and the minimum from 17 to 20. This means that classes like trigonometry, Japanese language, and honors physics would no longer be offered.

Is this trimester scheduling really worth cramming more kids into fewer classes? Is it really worth depriving students of the advanced thinking classes that are available to them now?

The school board will vote in mid-January. I urge concerned citizens to call Central Valley School Board officials and voice dissent on this proposal. Erin Donovan Spokane