Park Junior High's Tradeoffs Draw Criticism

LA GRANGE PARK, IL – The superintendent of La Grange District 102 made the case Thursday night for a new bell schedule that reduces classroom time for English and math by 40 percent at Park Junior High. Increases are made in other areas.

At the same time, Superintendent Chris Covino told the school board he did not do enough to communicate the changes.

In January, the board heard a presentation for a proposed new bell schedule, which members approved a month later.

With the April election, three of the board's seven members are new.

Part of the tradeoff under the new schedule is a nearly 20 percent increase in class time for science and social studies.

Under the schedule, the junior high is adding what is known as a "flex period," which is designed to meet various academic needs.

With the period, students can choose which teacher to go to for extra help – and parents can override those choices, the board was told.

Chris Covino, superintendent of La Grange School District 102, advocates Thursday for the new bell schedule at Park Junior High. Board member Katy McQuiston is next to him. (David Giuliani/Patch)

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

In his presentation, Covino said 36 percent of students have diagnosed disabilities or other diagnosable conditions. That rate is rising, he said.

"We as a district need to be accountable to their needs," he said.

After emails about the bell schedule went out recently, some people indicated they had never heard about it before, Covino said.

They were concerned about the drop in English language arts and math instruction and that the change wasn't communicated, he said.

"Those are all legitimate concerns that we're hearing in a number of different ways," Covino said.

Last week, Covino said he held a meeting with 50 residents about the plan.

He recommended the board keep it. When asked whether it could change midyear if it wasn't working, Covino advised against doing so.

"That would have all kinds of ripple effects," he said.

But he promised regular reports on how the schedule was working.

Member Katy McQuiston asked about Covino's thinking on above-average students during the flex period.

He said the district would look to expand those students' opportunities. He said he was troubled that 87 students in the most recent graduating class indicated in a survey that their classes only "sometimes" challenged them.

Next year, Covino said, Park Junior High will see 20 percent more students in advanced math classes.

Brian Grogan, a new board member, said that if the new schedule works as designed, it would benefit students.

"There are always tradeoffs," he said.

He also said he wanted frequent monitoring of the schedule.

"Flex is new to me. I'll be focusing on it," Grogan said. "We want to make sure the time is utilized."

McQuiston noted an achievement gap between groups of students, saying the district was not moving the needle in that regard.

"This could be a step," she said.

Covino replied, "I don't think there is one panacea in education."

Resident Jamie Zaura, a critic of the new bell schedule, spoke during the meeting. She took Covino to task for the lack of communication with residents, saying the plan was approved with no public input.

"I would like to know what happened. Why on June 4 did I receive an email that stated changes will be made to the bell schedule, increasing the 140 minutes lost each week in math and (English language arts)," said Zaura, a La Grange Park Village board member (a role she did not mention). "As I mentioned in my earlier comment quoting the Superintendent, 'We are working on an alternative that addresses the primary concerns that we heard (recently). We can do better with the feedback of our community members.' What happened to 'we can do better'?"

She contended that Covino misrepresented information. She also alleged the district's grading system was flawed and questioned whether the administration could manage $82 million from a voter-approved tax hike.

"I do not want to be completely negative in my statements. I want to reassure those of you who reside in La Grange Park that your village, library district and park district are all run significantly better than District 102," Zaura said. "I urge that the community change this. Community members, you have to do better because the board refuses to do so."

She continued, "You must attend these meetings and tell the board how disappointed you are in their lack of leadership and inability to function as the leaders of District 102."