Broad school changes posed

Up to 10 full-time district jobs could be lost, Johnson said, but $137,000 left over from the changes could be used to buy books, desks and other equipment.

Johnson expects some opposition from the teachers' union, but said the plan "is about what's in the best interests of the students."

The new schedule would shorten class periods from 58 minutes to 51 to add a seventh period. School would begin 15 minutes earlier at 7:45 a.m. but would still end at 3 p.m.

It would also require students to complete a year-long science, world language or arts course by the end of 10th grade rather than 12th, bringing core requirements more in line with that of the University of California and California State University.

More students would attend those classes, and class sizes in freshman and sophomore core classes would grow from 20 students per teacher to 30.

The district would forego state money to legally allow it.

Johnson said many students in the first two years of high school are taking English and algebra courses with extra support periods, leaving them with little time for other classes in the school day. The new plan would allow students to fit an elective course or another study period.

"This is not just for students who are going to need help, it's for students whose schedules are impacted," Johnson said.

Nicole Meuschke, a 16-year-old junior at Burlingame High School, said she favored an extra period but worried about losing librarians or counselors.

"I think it's partly a good idea because [students] can get more help," she said.

If band practice were integrated in to the regular schedule she would not have to arrive at school at about 7 a.m. for "zero hour" practice.

Johnson said elective courses are often what motivate students to get to school every day, and the district ought to encourage it.

Lab sciences like biology, chemistry or physics would also be required instead of weaker "applied science" courses.

The office received at least 10 calls this week from parents upset or confused with the proposal, and Johnson deflected the charge that shorter periods mean less rigorous teaching.

Schools in Fremont Union High School District, Tamalpais Unified and Palo Alto Unified school districts have schedules with classes from 47 to 57 minutes and have average or above-average Academic Performance Index scores.

The plan would add the equivalent of three full-time employees to teach English, math and social studies, and would drop the equivalent of 17 full-time school counselors to 13, and would usually have two at each school.

Aragon High School already works adequately with two counselors, Johnson said, adding that many counselors said they were doing clerical work.

Some newer librarians would also be cut, but senior librarians with teaching credentials will likely be recruited to teach, Johnson said.

Sports coaches and athletic directors would have to teach one more period of the school day like other districts, and Johnson said only about 30 percent of coaches are district employees.

Some computer courses would also be cut, but most students are learning computers in other classes or at home, the superintendent said.

Craig Childress, president of the district's teachers' union visited Johnson Wednesday to talk about the plan, but did not return a call for comment.

The five members of the San Mateo Union High School District board have seen a draft of the proposal but Johnson said he was not sure whether the others supported it because the Brown Act prohibits pre-meeting discussion.

The board will meet at 7 p.m. Feb. 24 at the Adult Resource and Technology Center, 789 E. Poplar Ave. in San Mateo.

Stephen Baxter can be reached by e-mail at stephen@smdailyjournal.com or by phone: (650) 344-5200 ext. 109. What do you think of this story? Send a letter to the editor: letters@smdailyjournal.com.