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Block scheduling needs more scrutiny

A switch to block scheduling is being researched at Iola-Scandinavia High School.

The staff expressed concern about the concept during a Curriculum Committee meeting on Monday, March 9.

“This proposal will be very good for some and very bad for others,” said Jessica Wennesberg, Spanish instructor.

“We have to be very careful and thoughtful with how we go about this,” said High School Principal Sara Anderson.

Curriculum Committee Chair Kristen Hoyord expressed concern about how the board should move forward with this concept.

“Do we have enough pros to even pursue this?” she asked.

Wennesberg said it will be a totally new approach, and the staff will need help with the transition.

“We will go as slow as it needs to be, and we will make it work,” Hoyord said. “I don’t want to shut it down without looking at it.”

“We need to know how we are all going to benefit or not benefit from it,” said committee member Bruce Beyersdorf.

Art Instructor Peggy Olsen suggested that the board consider more of a modified scheduling system. When she worked in Port Washington, they blocked two days of the week and kept a regular schedule the other three days.

“It was a happy medium,” Olsen said.

Hoyord suggested that the I-S School District look at what similar-sized districts are doing.

The committee agreed that the I-S staff should research scheduling options to present prior to the end of the school year.

In the board meeting that followed, the I-S School Board agreed with the committee’s recommendation.

Board President Charles Wasrud has been recognized by the Wisconsin Association of School Boards.

District Administrator David Dyb presented the certificate of achievement to Wasrud for reaching level 3 in his “commitment to children through continuous participation in WASB programs and activities.”

The board sent two policies back to committee: Advertising on school property and field trips.

Hoyord noted that the advertising policy did not include the wording necessary to allow the board to have the final decision. She requested that this change be made before moving the policy to a second reading.

The Policy and Legislation Committee tabled the field trip policy before it was discussed by the board. Beyersdorf, the committee chair, based this decision on discussion at the committee meeting.

“There are some concerns here, and we need to revisit this,” he said.

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