Published: August 20, 2008 09:13 am            

Five-block schedule means SLHS will teach year-long core classes

By Brad Hicks / Staff Writer

With South Laurel High School’s recent change to a five-block schedule of classes came the need for a change in the policy of graduation requirements, which was approved at the Laurel County Board of Education’s regularly scheduled meeting last week.

The change was implemented so that some of the core classes, such as math, science and English, would be taught all year. Previously, South Laurel High School was on a four-block schedule, in which all courses were taught for one semester only.

The change to a five-block schedule led to classes previously lasting 85 minutes changing to around 70 minutes each. That change meant some classes would not last the required 120 hours for the year.

With the approval of the policy change, schools can now set the criteria for students’ mastery of courses not lasting the 120 hours.

A district committee will review this criteria set forth by the schools to determine if it is rigorous enough, said Monica Smith, director of secondary education. If not, the site-based decision making council will determine what changes need to be made. If the criteria is approved by the district committee, it is forwarded to the school board for approval.

This district-wide change will also immediately apply to the McDaniel Learning, a center for non-traditional students expected to open in September.

In other business, the board:

• Approved the second reading of the Kentucky School Boards Association Board Policy Updates, Procedures Updates and Employee Handbook.

• Approved an agreement to provide Title I services to St. Camillus Academy Students. Currently, there are two Laurel County resident pupils at St. Camillus, and the Laurel County School District must provide payment for these services, which costs $920 per student.

• Approved the Certification of Indirect Cost Rate Proposal for the 2008-09 Fiscal Year.

• Approved an agreement with CHECKEREDI collection services.

• Approved the Performance Bond of Superintendent/Treasurer.

• Approved a memorandum of agreement with the Family Resource and Youth Services Center Corps (AmeriCorps) for the 2008-09 school year.

• Approved an agreement with the city of London to provide School Resource Officers, one at each high school within the school district.

• Approved the re-creation of one special needs instructional assistant at Johnson Elementary and one special needs instructional assistant at Wyan-Pine Grove Elementary. These re-creations are due to resignations.

        

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