Fairfield schools considering change from block schedule

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By Lindsey Hilty, Staff Writer Updated 6:58 AM Thursday, November 5, 2009

FAIRFIELD — The Fairfield City Schools Board of Education picked the brains of students Wednesday to hear their thoughts on changing from block schedules to seven periods a day.

“I guess we want to confirm that it is working, and if it’s not we want to fix it,” said board President Jerome Kearns during the Wednesday, Nov. 4, meeting.

Three members of the Youth Commission told the school board they favored block scheduling, because they get more in-depth classes, less homework, more time for questions and can earn more credits.

However, they also miss interaction with more students, have trouble getting into electives and get stuck in unproductive study halls.

Secondary Curriculum Coordinator Bill Miller said before the meeting there are pros and cons to both schedules, and Fairfield has two local models to research.

Northwest Local Schools recently switched from block scheduling to seven bells, and the Lakota Local Schools has a blended seven bell schedule with seven periods for three days and four blocks for two days.

With a seven-bell system, where classes are 45 minutes and typically two semesters long, Miller said students could take 28 courses over four years. Fairfield requires 24 to graduate.

With blocks, he said students take four classes a semester and have 32 class opportunities throughout their high school career.

With blocks, he said, students get 90-minute periods to delve deeper into topics or spend more time in laboratory or hands-on work. Teachers teach three classes and get one 90-minute preparatory time. He said a positive is those teachers get to spend more time getting to know students and have fewer classes to prepare.

The seven bell schedule would cut down on the number of teachers required, thus saving the district money. Teachers would have 45 minutes of preparatory time and might have more classes to prepare. However, students would see more consistency in math, science and language classes, because they would take them consecutively rather than possibly go a semester or even a year without taking one of the subjects.

Miller and a committee of teachers and administrators have been discussing the issue and are scheduled to make a presentation to the board at its Nov. 19 meeting.

Contact this reporter at (513) 755-5067

or lhilty@coxohio.com

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Uncle Andy Mr Engel stated numerous times he could save millions at FF. Do you know his formula for this? He has never told anyone and can't find it on the anti tax website. He never spoke of how this can be done so I was wondering if you knew his formula? Cutting salaries will not save millions. Like to know his formula.I think many of us would like to know it.

What the...
6:55 PM, 11/5/2009

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I grew up in Missouri with a 7 bell system and it worked well. Having hired several young adults who graduated from local highschools unable to read on a third grade level or make change at the cash register, I think giving the seven bell system a shot has to be an improvement. Also studies have shown that if a person studies for over thirty minutes they learn only that which they see in the first ten minutes and the last ten minutes.

Ink
4:26 PM, 11/5/2009

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Let's all pray for Uncle Andy.

Momma
3:13 PM, 11/5/2009

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Uncle Andy, why are you any different than the people you criticize when your first comment is something about Soccer Moms with pudgy knees? What the heck is that? You're criticizing labelers but the first thing you do is label? I think there are some places that cuts can be made in our schools but I'm not willing to sacrifice the excellent education that my children are getting. I,as a citizen of Fairfield, vote and attend board meetings. I don't hide on a comment board.

DL
3:01 PM, 11/5/2009

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Its bitter to decry unreasonable levels of taxation that go to pay unreasonable salaries? This is how the pro-levey people operate, boys and girls. The soccer moms with pudgy knees like to try and silence people with labels like "negative," and "child hater." The tax levy addicts call names. Yet, let someone like myself speak out against the shenanigans at Fairfield, and they engage in the same namecalling they allegedly condemn in others. What a farce.

Uncle Andy
2:26 PM, 11/5/2009

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