Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";} A growing movement against plans to change the schedules of middle school students in the Central Bucks School District seems to be gaining some momentum.
The Central Bucks School Board unanimously passed a proposal in February that changes the middle school day from seven classes a day to six. It extends the length of core-subject classes from 46 minutes to 56 minutes.
Assistant Superintendent Nancy Silvious presented the plan to the board, saying the additional class time in core subjects would allow for more application of learning, more time to meet the needs of diverse learners and more time for student-teacher interaction.
But the extra time for core classes which are math, science, English, reading, social studies and world language, means something has to go away. Under the plan, students will take four marking periods of electives each year instead of the current eight. That's the part of the proposal that is troubling some parents.
Elective classes are defined as art, music, physical education, family and consumer science, program for enrichment and industrial design.
A parent group called "Central Bucks Engage" is arguing the plan forces students to make choices they shouldn't have to make. For example, a music student who wanted to participate in chorus, he wouldn’t be able to take art.
The group started a letter-writing campaign aimed at school board members and district administrators. It reads in part:
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"As a parent and stakeholder in this district, I oppose the change because it will no longer allow all of our students the opportunity to take the exploratory courses that are an important part of a middle school education. Meeting the developmental needs of the ‘whole child’ has been an important part of our district’s successes, and this plan will only serve to hurt us in the long run."
A letter sent home by the district on Monday indicates their concerns are being heard. According to the district, a modified plan will be discussed at the school board meeting on March 13.
The letter says the board has asked the district to take another look at the plan in an effort to respond to the concerns. According to the district, there is an effort to compromise with parents with a modified plan. This would provide all electives to students throughout their middle school years and extend music all year long.
The letter maintains the primary goal of lengthening the core classes would be preserved.
The modified plan will be presented to parents of next year’s seventh graders at the middle school orientation meetings Tuesday evening.
Parents involved in "Central Bucks Engage" plan to meet Wednesday at 7 p.m. at the Bucks County Library in Doylestown to discuss the modified plan.
At the time of publishing, calls from the school district had not yet been returned.
