Prep time, collaboration at heart of reduction of periods in Cape schools

Editor's note: This is the second of two stories examining primary reasons behind a proposal by the Cape Girardeau School District to eliminate a class period at the junior high and high schools.

Two primary parameters set out by the Cape Girardeau School District in its proposal to shift from eight to seven periods a day are the leveling of preparation time for teachers throughout the district and the creation of districtwide collaboration time each week.

Those objectives, along with increasing teacher pay, are the biggest reasons behind the change. Last week, the district set the seven-period day into motion when the school board approved a separation-agreement policy that would give experienced teachers who are near retirement incentives to retire early, allowing the district to eliminate some positions because of the schedule change.

But prep time was at the heart of the decision, which drew criticism from some teachers, parents and students.

According to Cape Girardeau public schools superintendent Jim Welker, teachers at the elementary-school level have about 60 minutes of prep time during the day, while teachers at the secondary level (junior high and high school) have 80 to 90 minutes.

During a school board meeting in November, students, parents and teachers gave their opinions -- mostly in opposition -- of the district's proposal. Several teachers, however, expressed why they think there is a need for change.

Robin Kralemann, a kindergarten teacher at Clippard Elementary School, discussed the discrepancies in prep time between the elementary and secondary levels and how the system could be improved.

"The teachers at Clippard Elementary are asking for equality by increasing our plan and collaboration time," Kralemann said. "Based upon the majority of teachers at Clippard, of whom I am representing, we are asking the board to respond in favor of the change in hours at the junior high and high school in order to provide additional time to collaborate, which is needed to plan and create the best possible experience for our students."

With the leveling, all teachers would have a consistent amount of prep time throughout the week. The district also would create districtwide collaboration time for all teachers to convene and discuss the curriculum, lesson plans, learning concepts, successes, challenges and how to help create more consistent and effective learning objectives to meet the needs of students throughout the district.

Welker said an early release time weekly on Wednesdays has been proposed, but it is not concrete.

Challenges for teachers

According to a 2014 study, "Primary Sources; America's Teachers on Teaching in an Era of Change," by Scholastic and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, surveys presented to more than 20,000 teachers throughout the United States showed 51 percent of the teachers said they thought not having enough time to collaborate with peers and colleagues was among the most significant challenges faced by teachers.

Class-size fluctuation, policy changes and a need for more parent-teacher collaboration also were noted challenges.

The report states: "In general, teachers feel that instructional materials that are age-appropriate, leveled and high-interest are the most important resources required to ensure that their students meet the new state standards. After materials, teachers point to their colleagues -- both teachers and administrators -- and then time for collaboration and professional development, followed by technology."

Several teachers throughout the report are quoted saying time for collaboration is imperative to improve the quality of their teaching and the learning outcomes of their students.

The need for collaboration throughout Cape Girardeau public schools also is related to the district's recent move to become a Professional Learning Community, or PLC, which is built around a strong focus on students and learning. The goal of a PLC is to foster collaborative learning among teachers to help create the best learning experience for students.

At the November board meeting, several attendants expressed concerns about losing the eighth period at the secondary level, mainly because it would reduce the total amount of credits students can complete at the high school.

Students currently are required to have at least 24 credits to graduate from the high school, with a semesterlong class earning one half credit and a yearlong class earning one full credit. With an eight-period day, students can earn up to 32 credits throughout their time in high school.

With seven periods a day, that number drops to 28.

"The biggest concern, I think, from most people was about the electives, and again that's been a concern of ours, too, particularly of mine. I really want to preserve that ability for our students to take a lot of electives," Welker said.

"From a parent's standpoint, I understand why there was some concern, because those parents that are really involved in their child's education, they see it as a loss of opportunities ... " Cape Girardeau school board president Kyle McDonald said.

Along with a lessened opportunity to take electives comes fewer opportunities to take Advanced Placement and dual-credit courses, but Welker said the high school will maintain the same number of AP and dual-credit courses for students it has now.

"If we go to a seven-period day, [students] may have to do a little bit more of prioritizing which classes they want to take," Welker said.

Although Welker, who was a vocational teacher, likes the idea of students having the ability to earn as many credits as possible, he said that has to be weighed against teacher salaries and other components to create a proper balance for the district.

Options for students

At last week's meeting, Welker announced additional plans that would preserve students' options.

• Summer school will be expanded. Instead of summer school being for credit recovery alone, students could take other classes to stay ahead. Welker said AP courses probably wouldn't be offered during the summer, but instead using that time to knock out core courses would help students take more AP classes during the school year.
• The school will require one physical education credit instead of two.
• The school will eliminate the requirement all freshmen take a Preparing for Academic Success class.
• The school will allow one fewer semester of practical arts requirements.

At the junior high, the plan is to hold an advisory period four days a week, combine English and writing classes to one, increase writing activities curriculumwide and keep each class period at 45 minutes. Students still could take two electives.

McDonald said going from an eight-period day to seven could lengthen the amount of time teachers could spend with students for each period and provide more time to help students who are struggling with certain concepts.

Students who are struggling won't have as many opportunities to make up failed classes, but they could have less stress with a lighter class load, he said.

"There's pros and cons to both sides," McDonald said.

Teachers currently are required to teach six of the eight daily periods. With the loss of the prep period, this number would increase, making the requirement to teach seven of the eight daily periods, in which case, the teachers may have a mandated limit on how many students they can teach per day.

"We try to do what's best for the students, and by doing this, yes, we get input from other groups, but ultimately we have to make the decisions and the administration has to come up with a program that impacts our students the best and treats our faculty, our staff, fairly, and all the decisions that go in between those points -- it's a lot to take in and a lot to figure out how it all works together," McDonald said.

lyoung@semissourian.com

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