Newport This Week

Rogers High Considering Class Schedule Changes




Rogers High School is considering a significant change in scheduling for students by going from seven to eight classes that will be taught in longer sessions, with four classes each day held on alternating days.

Rogers Principal Jared Vance and Sam Ribnick, senior director of District Management Group of Boston, which acts as consultants to school districts throughout New England, gave a one-hour presentation to the Newport School Committee at its Dec. 11 meeting.

Ribnick said there were numerous advantages to changing the schedule, which would come at virtually the same cost, and might even save money for the district. They included alleviating early starts to the school day, allowing time for extra help for students during and after the classes, and helping students who arrive late or leave early for school events.

Currently, the high school teaches the seven classes in 47-minute sessions. The four classes per day would mean students would be with the same teacher for 82 minutes on average.

“We seek to align the vision of the school with the schedule,” said Ribnick. “There is no magic number on this, but research shows the more time spent on a subject means greater gains for students.

“There is no right answer,” he said. “It’s a long-running debate. Just tell us which schedule is better. There is no persuasive evidence that one is better than the other. No study or evidence that one schedule format produces better results. But let’s figure out what is the right answer here in Newport and set a schedule that fits our students’ needs best.”

Ribnick said that longer class periods allow teachers to teach courses differently. “It can be implemented with teachers and resources you already have at the high school,” he said.

Vance said school administrators have been looking at a possible change since the beginning of 2017.

“With a flat schedule, [students] always miss the same class,” he said.

School Committee member Robert Leary, a teacher for 38 years, said the plan would not work due to tardiness and absenteeism, which is high in Newport.

“Newport tried it years ago. Here’s why it doesn’t work: Over 50,000 absent or tardy in a year, 127 a day,” he said. “Day two comes, a student is absent, day three comes, he’s absent. He’s late. He’s been in class one day. Every day schedules work with our population. You have to see the math teacher every day. It’s not going to work. Teachers won’t teach for 85 minutes.

“Go to Brockton, go to Fall River, they won’t do it. New Bedford tried it. They won’t do it. Results are no better. It’s a huge mistake. Do not do that with our population,” he said.

Committee member Sandra Flowers disputed Leary.

“Those who have challenges in some areas will get additional help. It’s still in the planning stages,” she said. “Mr. Leary’s opposition comes, I believe, from his experience as a teacher when some students are frequently absent and could miss, say, a math class on alternate days. He feels the kids should see their teachers every day. My take is that the chronically absent students are missing too much anyway and the block schedule just might give them and the teachers more time to catch up when they do come to class.”

Committee member Rebecca Bolan said that staff is unhappy with this year’s schedule, while Vance admitted, “There have been a few bumps.”

Said Superintendent Colleen Jermain, “There are many benefits to it. I understand and hear you clearly, Mr. Leary, about attendance. That, to me, is another separate area we need to address.”

If approved, the change would take effect in fall 2019.


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