By By JOHN EBY / Dowagiac Daily News
Driven by freshman performance, new high school reform requirements and lack of flexibility in current block scheduling, Union High School since the start of the 2006-07 school year last August has been studying replacing the traditional two semesters with three 12-week "trimesters."
DUHS Principal Paul Hartsig told the Dowagiac Board of Education Monday night during a 2 1/2-hour work session at Pathfinder Center that the staff examined six scheduling formats based on the three concerns – the current 10-year-old eight block with seminar, a six-period day, a seven-period day, a seven-period day with blocking, a modified block and trimesters.
A modification of the current block and switching to a trimester schedule were identified as warranting further exploration.
Over the next four months the school improvement committee spun off subcommittees to evaluate merits of each schedule.
Visitations were made to other schools following the trimester system, such as Three Rivers and Plainwell.
By January, Hartsig reported, a majority of 21 teachers leaned toward the trimester as the best path to address high school reform, freshman success and schedule flexibility.
"The trimester is probably one of the most flexible schedules out there," Hartsig said. "In the next five years it will probably be the most common schedule in high schools."
Trimesters not only break the two semesters into three 12-week stanzas, they break each school day down into five 72-minute periods which meet every day.
"We think that with the (increasingly rigorous) English and math content that you need to see your students every single day," Hartsig said. "How can two trimesters of class equal the same amount of coursework as a whole year? Under the block system, if you have algebra second hour, in 18 weeks you would have 4,014 minutes per semester. In a trimester, in just one 12-week period, because you're meeting every day, you would have 4,320 minutes of content. You're adding almost an additional week of instruction every trimester. Over the year, you gain about 2 1/2 weeks of extra content teaching time. That time is very important in order to fit all of the new requirements for algebra and English" attached to the state's high school reform.
"That extra time is one of the things that really kind of makes us think this is definitely the way to go," Hartsig said.
Another trimester benefit is students can retake failed classes sooner, so they do not fall behind.
"We can offer a remediation class for 72 minutes a day for 12 weeks of math to get skills up to where they need to be to start algebra," he said.
Maintaining electives is also important to Hartsig.
"I feel well-rounded students are very important," he said. "Drama, music, art, industrial tech – all the extra things we offer our students that I'm very proud we can – more flexibility in scheduling can help us keep those. (Trimesters) also align with athletic seasons."
One drawback identified is the pressure more frequent scheduling places on guidance counselors.
"Scheduling of classes is done now from the end of February until June. We do that once a year. Trimesters, we change some of their classes every 12 weeks. Every 10 weeks or so we're looking at how they're doing in their classes. Do they need a study skills class?"
"Another worry is a possible gap in classes between trimesters," such as an English class the first two, but not the third, pupils might not retain skills over the summer. "Most of that drop occurs when students haven't learned material to begin with. I think the possible gap is overrated."
Hartsig shared a sample schedule for a ninth grader struggling with reading and math. The fall trimester he could take a transitions math class to build up skills before tackling algebra winter trimester.
He might also take a study skills class before physical science and more algebra, earth science, business and technology, economics, civics, physical education and health, reading basics and two trimesters of English.
Under this scenario, the freshman has math and English all year, but no more than three core classes per term, plus the opportunity to polish study skills.
The principal put up another freshman schedule for a higher achieving student to show where electives fit. This student might start the fall with civics, health, earth science, English and marching band.
Winter trimester classes could be business and technology, algebra, physical science, English and performance band, with a spring term of economics, more algebra, more business and technology, spring band and another elective.
His third example was of a junior, who might want to be released first period for dual enrollment at the college, as well as chemistry, U.S. history, algebra II and an elective, such as vo-tech or academies.
Winter term, from November to March, the junior's schedule could accommodate an American College Test (ACT) preparation class.
"One of the things we tried not to get bogged down with was, 'What's it going to look like?' " Hartsig told the school board. "Trimesters can look like whatever we need them to look like. We can do it where every Wednesday we take 10 minutes off every class so clubs could have 40 minutes for meetings or to do homework."
The ability to customize a flexible schedule has been much on the principal's mind this week because of snow days Monday and again today. "Now I have to think, 'What kind of schedule do we have to run on Friday because we missed a Monday-Wednesday class" with block scheduling. "If we miss a Tuesday-Thursday, we generally have that schedule on Friday."
Next, to go forward with trimesters, Hartsig said he is meeting with each department head to work out departmental issues and schedules while shooting for Feb. 16 and a full day of professional development and creation of a mock schedule.
DUHS is also meeting with Eileen Crouse at Southwestern Michigan College to insure dual enrollment opportunities and with Joan Forburger from Lewis Cass Intermediate School District to make sure career tech education (CTE) and SMC academy programs are aligned.
"One of the most important things we have to do is to inform the community and parents," Hartsig said, "and to get the word out as to why we're doing this and why we think this is the best thing for our students … We don't have all of the answers yet, but we have a good plan in place."
"It was really a positive experience to go to the high school last week," Superintendent Peg Stowers added. "A little trepidation on their part because there are some uncertainties. For some, it's a big move in the comfort zone that they've had for 10 years with block. It's the only schedule they've ever known, but I thought they were receptive. That would not have happened had there not been a lot of ground work done."