Less Math, English Time At La Grange D102

LA GRANGE, IL – Park Junior High students will get less English language arts and math class time next school year.

But they are getting more time in science and social studies.

The school, which is part of La Grange District 102, is also adding what is known as a "flex period." That class, officials say, is designed to meet various academic needs.

Some parents are objecting to the plan, which the school board approved in February. But Superintendent Chris Covino said the schedule aligns with the district's long-term plan and parents' requests.

"The previous bell schedule did not work for the vast majority of students," he said in an interview in his office this week.

Many parents caught wind recently of the changes, which prompted a district meeting with them Monday.

In a statement to parents last week, Covino said he regretted not collecting and answering questions as early as January and February.

He provided a document answering what he said were many of the questions parents have about the changes.

He told Patch that many of the district's communications earlier this year were focused on information about a tax increase for building improvements on the April election ballot. (It passed with 68 percent of the vote.)

Under next year's schedule, Park students will get 40 percent less time in English language arts and math. But they'll get a full year of instruction in science and social studies.

According to the district's documents, growing research shows that increased time in science and social studies, especially in junior high, can improve reading comprehension, overall academic performance and content mastery.

With the flex period, the district said it wanted to address students' lack of support in areas where they need help.

"To address this need, the daily Flex period will allow all students access to teachers on a daily basis for support or help without replacing another class or reducing access to opportunities like world language," the district said.

During this flex period, students can attend band, orchestra and music courses, Covino said. Right now, those programs are outside school hours.

Under the new schedule, students will have 12 minutes each day just after lunch for working on their "executive functioning" skills.

In an email to the school board last week, resident Jamie Zaura expressed her opposition to the changes. She is also a La Grange Park Village Board member, which she did not mention in her message.

She said the district should have done more to seek public feedback before the January presentation to the board and the February vote.

"The desire to offer Social Studies and Science year-round has been cited as the rationale for the approved schedule," Zaura wrote. "Why wasn’t Park’s schedule modeled after an already successful example within (another Lyons Township High School) feeder District, such as Gurrie’s? It raises the question of why taxpayer dollars are being spent on developing a new bell schedule that may not meet the needs of the majority of students, when an effective model from a feeder school was readily available."

Zaura also said the schedule now focuses too heavily on one area – the music programs. That, she said, "can come at the expense of a balanced, academically sound schedule that meets the core needs of the students."

However, Covino said the music programs were not the impetus for the new schedule.

Zaura said she wanted the board to revisit the schedule at its June 12 meeting. Covino said he expects the issue to be up for discussion.

The district has posted online a letter from Superintendent Covino about the schedule and a question-and-answer piece.