High school may change class length

Todd Wetherington | Daily Herald The Roanoke Rapids school board is considering several changes that would affect Roanoke Rapids High School students in the near future. Advertisement

Jennifer Heaslip, Herald news editor

ROANOKE RAPIDS - The Roanoke Rapids Graded School District is diving into the new year by tackling some heavy issues.

School leaders are looking at alternative schedules they could implement at Roanoke Rapids High in August, such as four period block schedules, a mix of semester and year-long courses, evening classes or more opportunities to take college courses.

Currently, students at the high school take six 55-minute classes a day for the entire school year. Most schools in the state use block scheduling, however, in which students take four 90-minute classes each semester, or eight classes a year.

Block scheduling allows students to take more electives. Freshmen at Roanoke Rapids High, for example, only have room for one elective their first year and have to choose between classes such as foreign language, art, band or career-technical courses. With block scheduling, students would be able to choose two more classes a year than they can now, giving them flexibility in their schedules.

School officials aren't set on the four period block schedule, however, and will explore all options.

“We want to find the schedule that best fits the needs of our students,” Assistant Superintendent Greg Little said.

The current schedule also limits the programs and solutions they can offer for struggling students. Those who are failing a course, for example, have to wait until the next school year to repeat it. With a block schedule, however, a student failing a class in the fall could take it again in January instead of waiting until the next school year.

They have enough personnel and room to change the schedule, Little said. Members of the high school improvement committee and the school's leadership team will research the possibilities, he added, and they will also solicit input from the public.

The district looked at scheduling options in the 90s, board member Mike Salanik said, and decided against the block schedule after most community members said they didn't support the idea.

The longer classes would give the teachers and the students more time to explore each subject in a single setting thus enhancing their opportunity to learn. However, opponents suggest that students' attention will wander with the 90-minute class periods, making it less likely the time will be well-used.