WCHS Changes To Block Scheduling

July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.

By Laurie Hahn, Times-Union Staff Writer-

The stage is set for Warsaw Community High School to switch to block scheduling next year.

WCHS principal Paul Crousore told Warsaw's school board Monday that there will be four 90-minute instructional periods per day, with eight minutes for passing between classes and four 45-minute lunch periods.

The school year will be divided into four terms, so students may take 16 classes per year.

Assistant principal Jennifer Brumfield said teachers are already working on lesson planning for block scheduling, since longer classes require more flexible teaching techniques.

The success and effectiveness of block scheduling will be assessed after the first year, Crousore said.

The school board also approved a bid by W.J. Carey Construction for $1.4 million to build the multi-purpose room at Madison Elementary.

Some modifications were made to the building plans to accommodate the type of steel structure the construction company will use, said architect Mary Ellen Rudisel. However, she said, the interior did not change, and the only major modification was to lower the building and make it more ADA accessible.

Construction is expected to begin next month and should take approximately one year.

In other business, the school board:

• Approved summer school courses for this year. Remediation classes for elementary and middle school will be the last week in July and the first week in August so they will be closer to the start of the next school year.

• Approved math textbooks for grades K-12.

• Established six staff development days (three early dismissal and three late arrival) for next year.

• Approved a one-year lease to Ivy Tech for $4,480 per month. School Superintendent Dr. Lee Harman said the rate did not change, but Lakeview Middle School has been using more square footage in the building and Ivy Tech's area is slightly reduced.

Harman also reported that the enrollment for WCS as of May 11 was 6,261 students, compared to last year's enrollment at this time of 6,201.

The school board meets at 7 p.m. in the administration building on the second Monday of each month. [[In-content Ad]]

The stage is set for Warsaw Community High School to switch to block scheduling next year.

WCHS principal Paul Crousore told Warsaw's school board Monday that there will be four 90-minute instructional periods per day, with eight minutes for passing between classes and four 45-minute lunch periods.

The school year will be divided into four terms, so students may take 16 classes per year.

Assistant principal Jennifer Brumfield said teachers are already working on lesson planning for block scheduling, since longer classes require more flexible teaching techniques.

The success and effectiveness of block scheduling will be assessed after the first year, Crousore said.

The school board also approved a bid by W.J. Carey Construction for $1.4 million to build the multi-purpose room at Madison Elementary.

Some modifications were made to the building plans to accommodate the type of steel structure the construction company will use, said architect Mary Ellen Rudisel. However, she said, the interior did not change, and the only major modification was to lower the building and make it more ADA accessible.

Construction is expected to begin next month and should take approximately one year.

In other business, the school board:

• Approved summer school courses for this year. Remediation classes for elementary and middle school will be the last week in July and the first week in August so they will be closer to the start of the next school year.

• Approved math textbooks for grades K-12.

• Established six staff development days (three early dismissal and three late arrival) for next year.

• Approved a one-year lease to Ivy Tech for $4,480 per month. School Superintendent Dr. Lee Harman said the rate did not change, but Lakeview Middle School has been using more square footage in the building and Ivy Tech's area is slightly reduced.

Harman also reported that the enrollment for WCS as of May 11 was 6,261 students, compared to last year's enrollment at this time of 6,201.

The school board meets at 7 p.m. in the administration building on the second Monday of each month. [[In-content Ad]]

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