Saturday, March 12, 2016

CHS SCHEDULING CHANGES PROMPT YET ANOTHER PETITION

We told you Thursday about Superintendent John Ramos' letter to parents indicating the district is looking at reducing the number of class periods at Columbia High School.

Well, now an online petition has been posted opposing the idea, with nearly 200 signatures already.

See it HERE.

The petition states, in part:

After years of using the 1-9 schedule system that provides students numerous opportunities to take the classes they desire, the South Orange-Maplewood School District is considering switching to a schedule that would abolish the first period that begins at 7:30, instead having an 8 period day with a later start time, which will produce disaster. For many students, including myself, a 1-9 schedule is crucial in order to get in both the necessary credits and the classes the individual pupil has chosen to pursue during a time in their life where finding one's passion is heavily emphasized. Many students would be affected negatively by a schedule change, not just a select few who would hopefully be able to manage ... In a school district that places just as much emphasis on the arts and creativity as academics, to do away with the current schedule would essentially result in undoing the years of hard work to promote the arts as well as creating and pursuing one's dreams and passions.

This is the fourth such petition opposing a district policy in just the past few weeks.

The others are against plans to close the Columbia High School pool, the current "rushed" strategic planning, and the proposed cutbacks in budget items, especially for the arts. 

No comments: