Several dozen parents, students and teachers gathered outside the Monroe County Courthouse Monday afternoon to voice their opposition to a new high school class schedule announced last Friday.
The change would be implemented in the fall and put both Bloomington High School South and North on a common schedule – a hybrid-block schedule with eight, 60-minute classes, or four classes one day and four the next on an alternating basis.
North currently runs on semesters, using a block schedule where students attend four, 80-minute classes every other day. South runs on trimesters and has the same five, 60-minute classes each day.
Bloomington South junior Rohnan Steele was one of several speakers. He directed his comments at MCCSC superintendent Jeff Hauswald.
“You have twisted our words, you have ignored our reasoning, you have blocked our websites, and, most importantly, you have hurt our community,” Steele said.
The announcement last Friday took parents, students and teachers by surprise. MCCSC recently announced it was looking into developing a schedule that every high school in the system would use.
It also announced teacher, student, and family focus groups would meet to gather input on the proposed change. Those sessions are still planned.
“I was completely devastated,” South junior Yverre Berzins said. “I was just so upset about how fast the process was going and how little consideration it seemed like they were taking.”
Protestors carried signs saying “Where’s the data, Hauswald?” and “Prioritize the mental health of our students.”
Bloomington North sophomore Kelton O’Connell was relieved the corporation went with the hybrid-block schedule, which is akin to what North uses now.
“But on the other hand, the letter’s timing, and I mean, just the letter itself shows a lack of willingness for open communication and discussion from the district,” O’Connell said.
He said he’s also concerned about the seemingly lack of input from teachers in the process.
“Our teachers are working tirelessly, day and night, all the time, to do the best for us and to prepare us for our lives after high school,” he said. “And so to see them not being heard, to see them not being valued, and then to see them having their preptime cut; it's just so obviously disrespectful, and it hurts us to see them in such a place of where they're powerless.”
Bloomington North science teacher Erich Nolan was taken aback by how quickly the school corporation moved on the proposed schedule change.
“I think anytime you want to make a massive change such as this, you should do it as a very deliberate process, involve all the stakeholders that are going to be affected by it and make sure that you're making the decision based on sound data,” Nolan said.
Brezins said the current schedule allows her time to work a job and do extra-curricular activities.
“I think that's too much homework. I think five classes is just right,” Brezins said. “I mean, I’m struggling a little bit with five.”
Before announcing its decision, MCCSC said it took into account a student survey from May that 61.5 percent of those surveyed completed. One of the concerns, it said, was 38 percent of North students said the 80-minute classes were too long.
MCCSC is expected to address the issue at Tuesday night’s regular school board meeting.
