GBHS teachers protest block vote
BY VICI PAPAJOHN Gulf Breeze News vici@gulfbreezenews.com

After teachers' votes were tallied on Jan. 14, it appeared that a 76 percent vote in favor of teaching a six period day would be over-ruled by the minority and the 2008 Gulf Breeze High School (GBHS) schedule would change to a four-class block schedule.

But the Santa Rosa School Board is expected to delay confirming the GBHS decision at its next meeting.

"I will ask the board for a delay until the Feb. 28 meeting to address the Gulf Breeze vote," says SchooBoardmemb er Ed Gray. "Procedurally, there may not have been a clear understanding and there could be a new vote."

When the teaching staff at Gulf Breeze High School GBHS) cast secret ballots nearly 76 percent voted to teach six of seven periods in 2008, approving a waiver to their professional contract that allows for teaching five periods of seven each day, according to Gulf Breeze High School (GBHS) principal Sylvan Ladner. Three teachers did not cast a vote, and their vote counted as a "no" vote as a result. An 80 percent vote in favor of teaching six classes was required to over-rule the professional contract.

"It is unimaginable that such a small group of people could over-rule the vast majority," said one veteran teacher who chose to remain anonymous. "Teachers, the administration and parents were by and large very interested in avoiding a block schedule. And teachers have come forward to express that neither the issue nor the procedure were adequately explained. There is a call for another vote."

School Board Superintendent John Rogers says the move is to save money, and explains that the state funds the district only to teach six-period days, and the county could no longer underwrite the schools teaching seven periods a day. School board staff recommended that the school board adopt a four by four block schedule after a year of study and research, according to Rogers.

Schools were given the option to stay on a six-period teaching schedule under the terms of their professional contract, which requires the 80 percent vote.

Each school staff had the opportunity to vote and let the school board know which schedule they would use next year by Jan. 17, and the school board would have the opportunity to ratify the decisions at its meeting Jan. 24. Currently the north county schools are on block scheduling, including Pace and Milton and Jay High Schools, though Milton fought to revert back to a six period teaching day as well. Navarre High School was on a seven-period day, teaching five periods and the school was successful with its bid to stay off block, after coming up with the 80 percent vote required.

"I believe that the voting faculty, when they took the vote two weeks ago, had it ramrodded and expedited through the process so less controversy and publicity would occur," asserts parent Bruce DeMotts. "Making it the teacher's choice just reflects an appearance of board irresponsibility. A publicized meeting for faculty, parents and community is needed showing all the facts, pro and con, so an educated, cognizant decision can be accomplished."

And parents are moving forward with just such a meeting. "If the school board has been studying this for a year, why haven't parents and community been involved? Saving some money on a change that the board and Rogers admit is not necessarily a good thing for education? We need to know more," says parent and local attorney Richard Jesmonth A community forum has been organized by parents and is tentatively scheduled for Feb. 12, according to Jesmonth

With a four-by-four block schedule, a year's worth of material would be covered in one semester and students would have 85 minutes in each class. Ladner met with teachers last Monday to give them the results of the initial vote, and he has also held department head meetings.

"We have no idea yet how this will affect us. How it will affect guidance," said Ladner. "We are all calling around, talking to schools who have successfully adapted to the block schedule. Pace High School is an 'A' school and they are on block. We will be getting as much information as we can from them about how they transitioned and how they make block work for them. I am confident we can train teachers for the expanded class time so the students do not miss out if the final decision is to go to block scheduling."

The impact of block on the Advanced Placement (AP) course schedules is of concern to many parents calling in, according to Ladner.

"AP conflict with the block scheduling because the tests are only given in the spring," he says. "It is a more strenuous curriculum. We have to find a way to support the students who could finish a first semester AP and have to wait until May to take exams. We are exploring many ideas - among them is to partner classes for a period all year with one teacher and the exams could be reviewed together. Maybe rotate grouped classes - same teacher teaches both units for the year - exams on both reviewed at end and exam. We could stagger two classes all year with one being Monday, Wednesday, Friday and the other being on Tuesday and Thursday like college schedules. And we could group AP classes second semester. We will find a way to not let these students down."

"I'm not saying there are not problems funding education in our county," Jesmonth clarifies. "It is clear we do not get our fair share of state funding, when our kids perform steadily at the top of the state, and we are one of the bottom counties in terms of funding. We need to stop that. Education is a huge business, and it is probably one of the top three businesses in our county. Underfunding our education affects the quality of education afforded our children and affects industry and it has an impact on the financial stability of our area. This is both an educational and an economic challenge that we must address."

Many parents from Gulf Breeze protested to the school board both before and after the vote, and continue to voice concerns that block scheduling would cause a loss of electives or AP courses.

Under the state's six-period day students are required to get 24 credits a year, and under the seven-period day students get 28 credits. But under block scheduling they get 32 credits. There is the opportunity for more, not fewer electives, according to Rogers.

"No matter what happens, people are moving to make this work positively if it comes down to a block schedule," says Gray. "(Santa Rosa County Assistant Superintendent of Schools) Tim Wyrosdick has scheduled meetings with the SAC, PTO or any community group to educate parents, teachers of the pros and cons of both schedules. I really, really do not like and feel horribly about the fact that the teachers are being put in this position to make the decision. They have been asked to solve a problem they did not create."

An actual training schedule has not been discussed, according to Ladner, and the county will set up training. Rogers stresses that the block schedule move will save about $2 million of the $2.3 million cutback from the state.