School Board Considers Options for Schedule Changes at FCHS

by Leslie Lytle, Messenger Staff Writer

At the Jan. 4 meeting of the Franklin County Board of Education, the board heard recommendations from the scheduling committee formed last August to examine alternatives at the high school level. The committee was created to address concerns about the short amount of time—12 weeks—from the beginning of school until students would be evaluated under the new Tennessee Ready assessment. Committee members ultimately decided the time window for testing was not the most important factor for Franklin County schools, but rather the time needed to support student learning and prepare students for the next level of education.

The current Franklin County High School schedule consists of four 90-minute instructional blocks on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, with instructional blocks shortened to 80 minutes on Wednesday to make time for teacher collaboration. Occasionally, instructional blocks are shortened to 78 minutes to accommodate special activities such as pep rallies.

Schedule committee chairman Greg Mantooth, who is principal at Franklin County High School, said the committee investigated and dismissed as inadequate a seven-period schedule and a modified block schedule. The seven-period schedule (with students enrolled in a course for the entire year) limited opportunities for students to take enrichment classes, and the shorter class time limited lab and work-based learning experiences. With the modified block schedule (where students receive instruction in a subject  every other day), teachers reported students had difficulty retaining information. Both alternatives were rejected.

The committee faced the challenge of identifying a schedule consistent with implementing state-mandated Response to Instruction and Intervention (RTI²) practices at the high school level, a teaching model intended to focus on individual student needs that was previously only required in lower grades. The committee recommended a 78-minute block schedule with a daily 35-minute RTI² block mid-morning for intervention.

“All students would receive intervention,” Mantooth said, “some in the form of remedial help and others in the form of enrichment.” Students not requiring remedial help would receive enrichment during the daily RTI² block.

The Lawrence County Schools RTI² scheduling model guided the committee in making its recommendation to the board. The committee foresees a likely need for RTI² teachers in English, math, the sciences and reading. Mantooth will review registration projections to determine hiring needs and present them to the board.

The committee also suggested the board consider reducing the number of credits required for graduation from 28 to 26. Together with block scheduling, the reduced credit requirement would allow some students to graduate in December rather than June, and allow others to attend school part of the day and work part of the day during their senior year.

The board also received reports on Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs offered at Franklin County High School.

Students enrolled in Mechatronics learn to troubleshoot and program systems employing a combination of mechanics, electronics, automation, robotics and information technology. In another class, students utilize a 3-D printer to turn digital designs into three-dimensional models. In one project, a student successfully designed an addition to his father’s prosthetic arm. Students in the welding program do virtual welding on a computer screen, avoiding the dangers inherent in the high-heat process, before going into a real shop and putting their newly acquired skills into practice. The Automotive College and Career Readiness programs teach auto maintenance, light repair and collision repair, preparing students for the on-the-job experience and post-secondary instruction required for certification.

Board member Christine Hopkins stressed the importance of all students knowing that the high school offered the CTE courses, “because that’s where the jobs are.” CTE instructors conduct career fairs at the middle schools each spring to inform students about opportunities available to them at the high school level.

The board next meets at Rock Creek Elementary School on Tuesday,
Jan. 12, a departure from the regular meeting day on the second Monday of the month. A musical presentation beginning at 6 p.m. will precede the meeting, scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m.