School Days Could Get Longer Due to Mandate
    By Myrtleann Anderson Staff Writer ~~ The Monahans News, March 27, 2008

MHS Principal Kellye Riley was present at the Monahans-Wicket-Pyote ISD Board of trustees meeting on Tuesday to give the board an update on a state requirement concerning 4 X 4 graduation plans dealing with math and science.

She said the Legislature passed a law in 2006-2007 that requires all students beginning this year with a the incoming freshmen class, to have four years of both math and science along with the mandatory four years of English and Social Studies.

Riley said the main concern in trying to work in the extra science and math classes was the hardship for students who want to participate in extra-curricular activities.

"We knew when they added the additional math and science that we had to do something different," Riley said. "We wanted to help our students continue to participate in all of their activities, so we began to look at different ways to implement those changes.

"At the end of last year our Student Council took it upon themselves to come up with a proposed schedule," she added. "They came to us and brought the proposal, which would change the schedule to an eight-period school day."

Riley told the board she and her faculty had kicked around the idea of having a zero hour before or after school, but that wouldn't work because it would cut into other school activities occurring during those times. According to Riley, after checking into several different ways to comply with the new requirement, the only possible way to allow students to continue to participate in other activities was to change to an eight-period day.

She said the needed time for the eighth period would be gained by starting to school five minutes form each of the seven other 55-minute class periods and dismissing classes at 4pm instead of 3:45 pm. The new schedule would allow for 50-minute class periods.

Riley said she decided to allow her faculty to decide how the eight periods would be divided, and they decided it would be better to have five morning classes and three afternoon classes.

The lunch hour would change to 12:30pm for high school students.

"For the most part, the faculty is behind the changes, as they realize we have to do this or our programs will start hurting," she said.

"Another problem with the change is the number of credits needed to graduate will have to be increased. We will have to increase the necessary credits for seniors from 24 to 28, beginning with the 2007-2008 freshmen class or otherwise we will have students who will be eligible to graduate at the end of their junior year."

Trustee Clayton commented on increasing the length of the school day and students will be spending 10 hours school.

"We wanted to throw the proposal out there this month so you would have time to think about it before it is voted on," Richardson told the board. "I think that's the best way to handle it."

"The elementary teachers are glad for the extra time, due to the new requirements," he added.

"Will the extra class period increase the cost of electricity?" Latham asked.

"The rooms are already heated or cooled, so it shouldn't be more expensive," Calvin Carrell, MWP-ISD administrative assistant, replied.

According to the discussion the new changes will have an effect on all campuses in the district.

The changes concerning the increased school day and increased credits for graduation will be addressed at the next MWP-ISD School Board meeting on Wednesday, April 16 at the Administration Building at 7:30.

To voice your opinion or concerns about these changes, you must contact the MWP-ISD Administration office and request to be added to the agenda in order to be heard.

keyed by Laura Hinojos, Junior '08