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Proposed changes to Riverton High School daily class schedule discussed
Earlier this month, the Riverton School Board gave high school principal Bill Lamkey permission to explore further a proposal to change the class schedule at the high school.
Full implementation is eyed for the upcoming 2009-10 school year.
The proposal is based upon the recommendation of the Student Support Team at the high school and would actually expand the high school daily schedule to nine periods.
The period under consideration for addition is at the end of the current school day.
The high school’s “zero hour” is now 7:30 a.m.-8:17 a.m., and would still exist under the new proposal. Seven core periods follow that. The new additional period would be
from 2:43-3:30 p.m.
Homeroom would be abolished under the proposal, which would necessitate student organizational, club and sport meetings to be held during either zero hour or the last
period.
Lamkey said the additional period would be used for non-core courses and electives, in addition to providing time to implement interventions for struggling students. The
proposal states it is possible college prep courses could be held during the new schedule, although specific information on what types of courses and who would be eligible to
take them was not in the original proposal.
The school district is currently on a year-round calendar, and will remain on it for 2009-10. The year-round calendar was originally adopted to help at-risk students, with the
two-week breaks at the end of each quarter geared toward those students as well.
Zero hour would continue be used for student assistance. Volunteer study halls, tutoring and RtI interventions would also occur during zero hour and the proposed last
period.
Lamkey stressed the proposal states even with this conversion, the number of minutes in a teacher’s work day would not change.
Transportation from the high school at the end of the proposed day would change slightly, and this is being worked on by Lamkey and Chris Koerwitz, district transportation
director.
For athletes who would need to leave early to board the bus for games and matches out of town, it would limit them to the zero hour for elective classes or behind the wheel in
driver’s education. Lamkey said high school counselors would have a list of “dos and don’ts” for student class scheduling purposes if the proposal is approved for next school
year.
Lamkey said he does not see any downside to the proposed nine-period schedule, except possibly transportation, and may put the proposal on the high school Web site. He
invites parents to email him at blamkey@rivertonschools.org with any concerns or questions.
There is an informational meeting scheduled Feb. 18, 2009 at 6 p.m. in the high school auditorium for parents. The March 9 school board meeting is targeted for a vote on the
proposal.
Earlier this month, the Riverton School Board gave high school principal Bill Lamkey permission to explore further a proposal to change the class schedule at the high school.
Full implementation is eyed for the upcoming 2009-10 school year.
The proposal is based upon the recommendation of the Student Support Team at the high school and would actually expand the high school daily schedule to nine periods.
The period under consideration for addition is at the end of the current school day.
The high school’s “zero hour” is now 7:30 a.m.-8:17 a.m., and would still exist under the new proposal. Seven core periods follow that. The new additional period would be
from 2:43-3:30 p.m.
Homeroom would be abolished under the proposal, which would necessitate student organizational, club and sport meetings to be held during either zero hour or the last
period.
Lamkey said the additional period would be used for non-core courses and electives, in addition to providing time to implement interventions for struggling students. The
proposal states it is possible college prep courses could be held during the new schedule, although specific information on what types of courses and who would be eligible to
take them was not in the original proposal.
The school district is currently on a year-round calendar, and will remain on it for 2009-10. The year-round calendar was originally adopted to help at-risk students, with the
two-week breaks at the end of each quarter geared toward those students as well.
Zero hour would continue be used for student assistance. Volunteer study halls, tutoring and RtI interventions would also occur during zero hour and the proposed last
period.
Lamkey stressed the proposal states even with this conversion, the number of minutes in a teacher’s work day would not change.
Transportation from the high school at the end of the proposed day would change slightly, and this is being worked on by Lamkey and Chris Koerwitz, district transportation
director.
For athletes who would need to leave early to board the bus for games and matches out of town, it would limit them to the zero hour for elective classes or behind the wheel in
driver’s education. Lamkey said high school counselors would have a list of “dos and don’ts” for student class scheduling purposes if the proposal is approved for next school
year.
Lamkey said he does not see any downside to the proposed nine-period schedule, except possibly transportation, and may put the proposal on the high school Web site. He
invites parents to email him at blamkey@rivertonschools.org with any concerns or questions.
There is an informational meeting scheduled Feb. 18, 2009 at 6 p.m. in the high school auditorium for parents. The March 9 school board meeting is targeted for a vote on the
proposal.
Issue Date: Dec. 25, 2008
