GOSHEN COUNTY – Beginning next fall, area high schools will move from 90-minute block scheduling to eight-period school days, averaging around 40 minutes per class.

High-school principals Chase Christensen (Torrington), Cory Gilchriest (Lingle-Fort Laramie), and Randy Epler (Southeast) informed the Board of Trustees of the change at a regular meeting Tuesday evening.

A committee has met for at least two years researching and debating the proposal, Director of Curriculum Donna Fields said at the meeting.

Epler said the issue was also discussed with teachers and students. Staff supported the eight-period days to increase frequency of contact with students, as well as the rate at which they can teach subject matter by seeing students more often, allowing them to delve deeper into content.

Students initially feared an eight-period day would result in more homework every day, Epler said. However, “teachers believe (this schedule change) will result in the potential reduction of homework.”

Block scheduling will continue on Fridays due to an already shortened school day. Should the district make the move to a four-day school week, eight-period school days will be almost mandatory, Mike Lashley of the Four-Day School Week Committee explained to the board last year.

Gilchriest said, without a switch to an eight-period day, “We couldn’t offer next year in block what we’re currently offering with our current staff.”

With eight periods a day vs. four, teachers will see students 142.8 hours per year, as opposed to 135.

“They are going to be shorter class periods, but across the year increase by about eight hours in instruction,” Christensen said.

In other business:

ν Former board member Ryan Clayton took the Oath of Office to fill an open position left by the resignation last week of trustee Dean Harshberger. Clayton was first appointed to the board to fill another seat in January 2018 and did not receive enough votes to retain his position in the November 2018 General Election.

ν Trail Elementary Principal Tyler Floerchinger, along with third- and fourth-grade teachers from the school, gave a presentation to the board about the importance of feedback and self-assessment and how they’ve been implementing the tools they learned at a conference in November in their classrooms.

ν Jay Em resident Craig Gueswel spoke in favor of the board-approved addition of a half-credit vocational Wildland Fire Fighting class in conjunction with the Camp Guernsey Fire Department, stating it would provide students with “a foundation of interest.” Trustee Rod Wagner also expressed his support for the new elective.

ν The first of two public hearings on the possible switch to a four-day school calendar will take place Monday, Jan. 21 at 7 p.m. at the THS Auditorium. Speakers are limited to five minutes apiece. The second hearing will be Tuesday, Feb. 5 at 7 p.m., also at the THS Auditorium.

ν The next regular board meeting is Tuesday, Feb. 12, at 7 p.m. in the Central Administration Building.