Reader suggests overcrowding solution

I was at last secondary overcrowding meeting that Rebecca Milligan attended and it is with interest that I read the letter to the editor written by her. It seems to me that going to a 6 period day would help take the issue of overcrowding from a crisis status to a "needs to be addressed" status. By switching from a four period day to a six period day the district could accommodate approximately 8.3 percent more students with the same number of teachers and classrooms, without incurring significant cost. The key is that with a four period day, 25 percent of the teachers have a planning period at any given time. By switching to a six period day that number drops to 16.7 percent. This solution could be incorporated with other measures, such as shifting the ninth grade to the junior highs and the sixth grade to the elementary schools, to come up with a cost effective temporary solution.

Instead of a common sense approach, the school board offers to go to year round school, go to an 11 period day, or eliminate the alternative school. None of these solutions are workable and will lead to more problems then they solve. It appears to me that the proffered solutions are intentionally unpalatable as a means to punish voters and students until the voters submit and pass the bond.

Dan Hansen

Moses Lake