Bernie dismisses block schedule

In a lengthy meeting of Bernie Schools' Board of Education this week, it was decided that with the start of the 2010-11 school year, middle and high school students would be reverting back to the traditional seven-period school day. The schools had been following a block schedule for the past several years.

A committee, Supt. John Boyd told board members, had met to discuss the pros and cons of both the block schedule and the traditional schedule.

Citing the fact that several on Bernie's staff have taught only on a block schedule, Boyd stated, "Now you're going to go from a 40 minute class period to 90 minutes and I think that for many that could be a very difficult transition."

Boyd, in recommending the district change to the seven-hour day, stated, "We can add several thousand additional instructional hours for our students, and I think that's a plus."

In all his research on the topic, Boyd said, "There is nothing out there that convinces me we need to stay with block scheduling."

Questioned by the board as to a cost involved in the switch, Boyd said, "If there is a cost, I don't know what it would be. I do not see a cost involved in this switch."

After some further discussion regarding the changeover, the board voted to make the switch to the seven-hour period beginning with the 2010-11 school year.

Considerable discussion took place involving the hiring of a volleyball coach for Bernie High School, with a guest in the audience, Gary Baker, voicing his concern regarding the need for a volleyball coach for the district.

"I feel that the policy you have is unacceptable," Baker told board members when referring to the board historically hiring a teacher within the system to coach the high school volleyball team in addition to their regular schedule of teaching.

Board member Keith Snider concurred, stating, "They (members of the volleyball team) deserve everything they can get. They have never really been treated fairly. I want them to have as much as the boys and I want the boys to have as much as they do."

Snider went on to express his thanks to current coach Jeff Rodgers, but stressed, "They've never had a true volleyball coach, a person that taught P.E. and knew volleyball. I want them to have fair treatment....and if we don't do it, I'm going to look at every board member and say, 'Shame on the board for not getting them what they need.'"

"It's time," Snider concluded.

Following additional comments by Snider and Baker, Supt. John Boyd explained that although he agreed with Snider, he was not willing to "create" a position, which Boyd stated was an option presented to him by a parent within the district.

"I'm not willing to do that," Boyd said, but followed up, "Once I have a teaching position open, then we would pursue it."

"For us as administrators," Boyd continued, "I think it's suicide for me to go out there and start recruiting people for a volleyball program if we don't have a teaching position."

Further discussion ensued between Baker, Snider and Boyd, until Board President David Blevins stated,

"I thank you for your opinion, but this is not an open forum," referring to the need for individuals to be placed on the board's formal agenda in order to address issues at the monthly meetings.

"You want to speak," Blevins told Baker, "you get on the agenda."

Baker explained that an attempt was made to do so, but was refused by Boyd, who defended his actions stating that he had explained to Baker prior to the meeting that he could not discuss personnel issues in open session, but that the volleyball program in general could be discussed in open session.

Still, Baker was not on the agenda and was addressed by Board President David Blevins, who told Baker, "You want to speak, you get on the agenda. I just don't want to turn our board setting into a circus."

In the end, all concurred that they wanted what was best for the volleyball program at Bernie, with Boyd pointing out that a procedure in place had to be followed when hiring staff members for the 2010-11 school year.

Kim Thurston, Bernie's technology coordinator presented the district's technology program evaluation to the board and informed them that the grant approval from Erate had been confirmed. The total amount of the Erate project is $87,399 with 80 percent to be funded by Erate. The local district is to pick up the remaining $17,479.

In other business, the board:

* agreed to take bids on several roofing projects within the district.

* approve amendments as supplied by MCE, the company that has been providing policy service to the district.

* approved a budget amendment to the 2010 budget involving the payment of the MUSIC insurance billing for calendar year 2010.

* approved the addition of Judy Smith to the substitute teacher list.

* agreed to discontinue a no-pay contract with Channel 1, which had previously provided televisions and wiring for Bernie classrooms. Previous contracts required student viewing of 12 minutes of programing each day. According to Supt. John Boyd, repair on the system has been a recent problem and was a consideration when deciding not to renew a contract.

* reminded the board and audience that filing dates for Bernie School Board candidates would run from Dec. 15, 2009 through Jan. 19, 2010. The seats of David Blevins and Ronnie Owens will be expiring.

* adopted a 2010-11 school calendar with a provision made to accommodate a full week of spring break.