Middle schools may offer fewer electives
Change would ease staffing needs
Sept. 1, 2010 | 0 comments
Seventh- and eighth-graders won't be able to take as many electives starting in 2011-12 school year if the Elmbrook School Board this month approves a budget-saving proposal from a district study team.
Under the proposal, Pilgrim Park and Wisconsin Hills middle schools would no longer offer separate classes like drawing, painting and sculpture to eighth-graders; rather that curriculum would be merged into a combined "Art 8" class. The same would be true for technical education classes, computer classes and family and consumer science classes.
Combining the classes is expected to reduce staffing by the equivalent of about three full-time teachers between the two schools.
The changes would affect only seventh- and eighth-grade students.
Parent concerns minimal
The School Board is expected to vote on the study team's recommendation later this month.
The change in electives "will provide a more fixed staffing model and still offer a full slate of electives" to seventh- and eighth-graders, the team's report says.
Wisconsin Hills Principal Robyn Martino said while listening sessions earlier this year revealed "no significant concerns" from parents, some educators - especially those affected by the change - were unhappy with the recommendation.
"Elective teachers are not thrilled with this schedule," she said.
Opportunities to stay same
Even though the number of electives would be reduced, students would still have the same educational opportunities, Pilgrim Park Principal Mike Sereno said.
The changes would reduce the number of elective courses for eighth-grade students to two, Sereno said. For instance, a student would no longer be able to take a music class, a foreign language class and another elective like art or tech ed.
If the board approves the changes, administrators at both schools will spend the next several months reworking the curriculum for the affected classes before their implementation next fall.
NEXT STEP
WHAT: School Board vote on changes to middle school electives
WHEN: 6 p.m. Sept. 14
WHERE: Central Administration Office, 13780 Hope St.
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