Recently, some people have asked both how and/or why members of the faculty are visiting benchmark high schools in Michigan next week.
Regarding why the trip was organized, a major change in a school's schedule like moving from a seven-period semester schedule to a five-period trimester schedule represents a fundamental reconsideration of how the business of education is done. It cannot and should not be taken lightly. Out of respect for the magnitude of this possible change, school officials and HSST members believe that seeing this schedule in action and engaging in meaningful dialogue with stakeholders in top-notch schools that use the 3x5 is an essential component of our study and consideration process.
When MTSD moved to the six-period day three years ago, that decision was made for budgetary reasons alone. Research into the most educationally sound means for reducing faculty staffing costs was not done; questions about the long-term impact of that schedule change may have been posed or even discussed but they were never closely studied. Today, we are doing the type of study that should have occurred several years ago but that did not for several reasons. The schedule that the HSST recommends this spring (assuming that it recommends a change and that the change can be negotiated with the School Board and teachers union) will remain in place at Homestead for the next many years. We need to do this work right, being thoughtful, diligent, and attentive to all relevant details.
Regarding the question of financing the trip, money for the site visits is coming from three sources: federal Title II dollars (money that districts must earmark for staff development and training), the annual Staff Development budget at the district level, and the annual substitute budget. The funds for this trip are existing dollars in the 2010-2011 budget. As an aside, please know that school and district officials are doing everything possible to conduct this business in the most financially responsible manner.
