New Bell Schedule Proposed for Chardon High School
Bells will be ringing at Chardon High School, just not in the order they used to.
At the Chardon Schools Board of Education meeting Dec. 19, Chardon High School Principal Doug Murray presented a proposal for a new bell schedule that will take effect in the 2017-18 school year.
It includes half-hour periods three days per week for special “intervention/enrichment” opportunities for students.
Murray emphasized these enrichment periods were built around student choice and teacher choice.
Called “Topper Time,” the idea grew out of visits made to other school districts. In Chagrin Falls, students have twice-weekly “Tiger Periods” in which they can visit similar enrichment classes.
Assistant Principal Ryan Bandiera explained the new proposal will give teachers the opportunity to create nine-week sessions for students to “explore their interests without the pressure of grades and assessments.”
Students currently take classes in set blocks and any “enrichment activities” — extra hands-on time in a lab or an in-depth discussion of a topic above and beyond what is offered in the classroom — has to happen during a teacher’s free time.
At Chardon, the enrichment classes will include subjects such as science labs, reading and writing workshops, math tutoring and support, organizational skills classes, college and ACT preparation or assistance in preparing for state exams, the principal said.
A student who is struggling in math could be in a math support period for the entire year. Or for help in multiple subjects, a student could take a math enrichment period for nine weeks then switch to writing support, he explained.
Students will be given the option of using a “flex pass” for days they need extra help in a subject or if they are caught up and would like to attend a different subject, Bandiera said.
There will be intervention support offered during the “Topper Times” for students who need emotional or educational support. Bandiera pointed out special education students are currently enrolled in separate intervention courses, which means they miss instructional time they could otherwise have.
With the adoption of “Topper Time,” they’ll still get intervention without losing access to their courses the rest of the week, he said.
The new bell schedule offers in-depth course time for two days of each week. On the days where there is no “Topper Time” enrichment period, regular class times extend to 90 minutes, allowing extended time for teaching complex topics.
Parents and students will receive a copy of Murray’s presentation and a link to Frequently Asked Questions before winter break. When they return, they will be invited to parent forums and students will also be given a chance to discuss the changes with teachers and administration.
Student liaisons Gwen Mack and Lauren Nichols also spoke to board members Monday night. They thanked the community for donating to Jeremy’s Kids, a fundraiser named for the son of Chardon High School teacher Rob Mizen.
Jeremy was 6 when he was killed in a car accident on Christmas Eve in 1999. Since 2001, Chardon students have come together in his memory to raise money to purchase Christmas gifts for less fortunate families at the holidays.
The high school business classes asked local stores to donate to the fund and many did. Nichols asked board members to “look for signs that say ‘we donated’,” as those shops deserve their thanks.
Mack announced the Science Olympiad team would be split in two this year and would be competing in new events, including Helicopters, Optics and Microbe Mission. The first Science Olympiad competition will take place in Westlake Jan. 7.
Nichols said everyone is happy casting for the spring musical “Les Miserables” is complete.
“Everyone is excited,” she said. “It’s a great musical.”
Superintendent Michael Hanlon announced three new committees to tackle ongoing projects in the district. A new safety committee will meet to regularly review crisis response plans. The district finance committee will review past finances and current predictions to help the district plan where it will spend money. And a district facilities committee will be tasked with creating a master facilities plan for the district.
Hanlon also recognized the service of bus mechanic Ken Kirby, who is retiring from Chardon Schools this week after keeping buses running for the past 23 years.
“Ken has been the unsung hero making sure that our buses pass inspection and are kept on the road to serve our students each day,” the superintendent said.
The board will hold a public tax budget hearing at 6 p.m. Jan. 11, followed immediately by the organizational meeting during which the meeting schedule will be set for 2017.
