MLHS schedule focus of community meeting

MOSES LAKE - A new schedule at Moses Lake High School dominated the conversation at a community meeting Monday night with members of the Moses Lake School Board.

Board members have been holding monthly community meetings throughout the school year, to talk about any subject that interests district patrons. Previous discussions have included Common Core requirements and its adoption, the possibility of year-round school, allocation of students to elementary schools and the high school schedule.

The committee formed to come up with a new schedule will make a recommendation to the school board at its Jan. 23 meeting. People who attended the community meeting had lots of questions about the schedule and its impact on students.

In the proposals under consideration, the high school will switch to a seven-period day. Students will pick from a schedule that has the first class at 7 a.m. and the last class ending at 5 or 6 p.m., depending on the board's choice.

In answer to questions, district superintendent Michelle Price said the goal is to ensure that not all high school students are in the building at the same time. The building will hold about 80 percent of the student body, so the idea is to have about 20 percent of the students attending early or late classes. In fact, enrollment in those classes before and after the regular school day would have to be limited, because they would be staffed to accommodate about 20 percent of the students, she said.

In answer to a question from Jamie Casteel, Price said the goal is to give maximum flexibility for juniors and seniors, many of whom have access to their own transportation. Casteel asked how kids chose their class schedules, given that some kids might make choices for reasons unconnected with education. Price said parents are involved in the entire process.

Ryann Leonard asked whether or not the school would have to hire more teachers to accommodate the schedule. Price said staffing is driven by the number of students, not the schedule.

Jackie Bartunek said the high school has fewer elective classes this year than it did last year, and she asked if the new schedule would continue that trend. Casteel asked about situations where kids would have a break between classes.

Price said the change in the elective schedule mostly is driven by the standards being imposed through Common Core. The content in those missing electives is still there, but being taught in different classes, she said.

Kids with a break between classes is something that happens now, Price said. High school officials want to come up with things for those kids to do on campus, to ensure they will stay on campus.

In August the school board voted to implement year-round school; board member Allan Burritt said the board directed that to start in the 2016-17 school year. Courtney Plaisted asked how the new high school schedule might impact that. She asked if year-round school would still be necessary if the new schedule solved the overcrowding problem and parents were satisfied. Burritt said as things stand now, year-round school will start in fall 2016. But board members can change their minds in the meantime, he said.

Casteel asked about expanding MLHS, possibly building a second story. Board member Connie Opheikens said the building couldn't accommodate a second story. The district does have 11 acres around the school and as a result room for expansion, Burritt said, but construction would require a bond. The district doesn't have enough money to pay for the construction on its own, he said.

District patrons rejected a bond in 2012 that would've paid for a new high school and two new elementary schools. Casteel asked if district officials were considering a new bond. Opheikens said there's not one under consideration now. But the board commissioned a study of projected growth and demographics, which will be presented to board members Jan. 23. The board will review the options after that, she said.

In answer to a question about the 2012 bond, Price said the decision to propose a new high school was the recommendation of a committee of district patrons, following an extensive survey of the community. If the board decides on a new bond proposal, a new committee would be formed and might come up with different recommendations, Price said.

The board also decided in August to convert Columbia Basin Secondary School into a middle school. In answer to a question from Plaisted, Price said the new middle school would have the same required-class schedule as the existing middle schools, but electives would be different. The committee working on that schedule is considering a focus on science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) elective classes, Price said.

Victoria Lugo asked if reestablishing an alternative high school would ever be an option. Opheikens said the board could consider that down the road.

Bartunek asked about current CBSS high school students. Price said there's a committee working on that too, and they have recommended against sending those kids to MLHS. District officials are still looking at options for housing those students, Price said.