York Seeks Volunteers To Help Plan Implementation Of New H.S. Schedule

By Amber Lester Kennedy Thursday, November 11, 2010

York County wants the input of parents and students in the school division as it begins to plan for a new high school schedule starting next fall.

The school board approved a plan last month to transition three of its five high schools to a hybrid 4X4 schedule. The division is soliciting applications from students and parents to join the implementation teams that will plan the transition for Bruton High School, York High School and York River Academy. Parents of current eighth-graders who will attend high school next year also are encouraged to apply to be part of the implementation teams.

The implementation will be guided by a steering committee chaired by Kipp Rogers, director of secondary education. The steering committee members will include the principals and guidance counselors at each school, and will have ongoing communication with the implementation teams.

The schools distributed letters to students and e-mails to parents through its EdLine service this week. Applications should be returned by Friday to teachers, the main office of the school, faxed to the school or e-mailed directly to the principal of the school. Once selections for the teams have been made, participants will be notified on Nov. 15.

Under the new schedule, students will enroll in four, 90-minute classes every day. Most classes will meet every day of the semester, but some classes, such as Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate and performing arts, will meet on alternating days for the entire year. Currently, students take six 90-minute classes on alternating days and one 50-minute course that meets daily for the entire year.

The new schedule will allow students to take at least eight classes each year, adding up to 32 credits over four years. An advanced diploma will required 26 credits next year; with the 4X4 schedule, students will have more options for electives and can retake failed classes.

Before the board voted to implement a hybrid 4X4 schedule, Superintendent Eric Williams recommended Grafton High School and Tabb High School be left out of the implementation because the staffs and parents weren’t expressing the same level of support as the other schools. He suggested the division take at least a year to evaluate the transition and see how the schedule works before considering expansion to Grafton and/or Tabb.

Learn more about the schedule change on the division’s website.