Sports editor
Marion/Florence USD 408 board of education failed to pass a proposal Monday that would change Marion High School’s class schedule to a seven-hour, daily schedule.
MHS Principal Brenda Odgers first proposed the change at the February meeting because she said the students learn more material in a daily schedule than a block schedule.
The school currently is on a block schedule in the morning, with four daily classes in the afternoon.
Odgers said a teacher told her he could cover three weeks more worth of material in his daily classes compared to block classes.
She also said some teachers have to slow down in the daily classes to make sure the students don’t get too far ahead of the block students.
“I want them pushed,” Odgers said of the students. “When you are slowing things down, that’s not happening.”
Odgers said it is not the teachers’ fault, but a direct reflection of block scheduling.
The four board members who voted against the proposal were Kathy Meierhoff, Duane Kirkpatrick, Jan Helmer, and Sarah Cope.
Cope had heard from a parent of an MHS junior who said the new schedule would be the third change in four years for that class.
“Maybe we just need some consistency,” Cope said.
Meierhoff had another reason for voting “no.”
“My biggest concern is the students losing an elective,” she said.
Odgers said that would probably happen and the students would need to make choices, possibly between band or choir, as well as other electives.
She said it was possible in the future to add a “zero” hour, which would allow students to take an elective class at 7:30 a.m.
Board member Lyle Leppke voted for the change.
“If they are truly behind, we’re not helping,” Leppke said. “When there is a choice of having a better grade in math class or taking an elective, math is the choice.”
Keith Collett also voted for Odgers’ proposal.
“I’m ready to do this,” Collett said. “If you can cover more material, you should.”
Board President Chris Sprowls had the third vote in favor of the proposal.
“If it’s the case that we are not getting all the information in the block schedule, then it’s a no-brainer,” he said.
Odgers said the whole motive behind her proposal was to have less wasted time and more academic contact time. She said that will help with ACT scores.
“I’m not trying to penalize the kids,” she said after the meeting. “I just want to do what is best for them academically.”
After the vote, the board discussed it again and decided to leave the schedule in its current format.
In other business:
- The resignation of Paula Ash as part-time high school English teacher was accepted.
- Tabor College student Lacy Ritchey was hired as an aquatic center lifeguard.
- Tod Gordon, activities director, gave an update on the schools’ switch from the Mid-Central Activities Association to the Heart of America League, effective 2010-11.