Whether or not there is a strong music program, literacy program
or leadership program at the Morgan Hill School District
’s two high schools may depend on the Morgan Hill Federation of
Teachers.
Whether or not there is a strong music program, literacy program or leadership program at the Morgan Hill School District’s two high schools may depend on the Morgan Hill Federation of Teachers.
Sobrato High Principal Rich Knapp told parents attending a parent forum on block scheduling Wednesday night that those programs, as well as journalism/yearbook and AVID, a course to help average students prepare for college, would be “in serious jeopardy” if those students are not allowed to take a seven-period day.
Knapp and journalism teacher Sybil Smith answered a parent who asked about students taking seven classes.
“The answer is both yes and no,” Smith said. “There will always be classes offered at that time … but can students take a seven-period day? I believe the answer to that is no. We are funded to provide six classes per day … If students took a seven-period day, that would increase class sizes, which would not be good for students or for teachers.”
Knapp said the schedule is determined by the contract with the teacher’s union.
“A seven-period day is a negotiable item,” he said. “I know we can’t afford everyone taking a seven-period day.”
Knapp had said at the April 25 board meeting, in answer to a question from Trustee Peter Mandel, that there would be a music program at Sobrato next year. Mandel had said their were rumors in the community that if students could not take seven classes, there would be no band.
“Where we stand with the union is that we have a six-period day, and students cannot take seven periods,” Knapp said Friday. “What I know is if we don’t allow students to take a seven-period day, students in band, AVID, journalism or any repeat class, literacy, leadership will be forced into making choices, and some of those kids will lose the opportunity to participate in those programs.
“I would hope that through negotiation we will find a way to address this and take care of those kids’ needs, a solution that is acceptable to the union and acceptable to meeting these kids’ needs …. I think we need to bring this forward to negotiation … This is something we should be deciding right away, not in August. Master schedules, and possibly hiring, are affected by this.”
Live Oak High and Sobrato have a “zero period,” during which students can take these courses, and a relatively small percentage of students takes them, Knapp said.
Marilyn Dubil covers education and law enforcement for The Times. She can be reached by e-mail at md****@mo*************.com or phoning (408) 779-4106 ext. 202.
