A bell schedule committee consisting of representatives from all departments of the school is meeting now to adjust the bell schedule for next year and potentially change the way classes meet at SJHHS.
At the core of the debate is whether or not to keep block or move to a traditional bell schedule or some combination of both. Some members on the committee would like to keep the regular block schedule. Others side believes that having an all traditional schedule would be better for the students.
Each department has at least one representative; Rich LaRue for Math, Dean McElroy for VPA, Armando Gonzalez for Athletics, Cindy Fuller for Attendance, Denise Reason for Special Education, Bill Kaiser for History, Martha Acosta of AA, Alvaro Serrano for World Language, and Sheryl Zinsli for Science. Other teachers have joined in on meetings as well.
“The meetings are about looking at the bell schedule, to see if it is the best for students,” said David Hall, SJHHS science teacher.
The goal is to make sure that the school has enough minutes so that there does not need to be another mid-year change in the bell schedule, as happened this year. While the committee is at it they are also looking possibly revisions to the structure of the school day.
Kathy Boggio, Social Science/Math teacher believes that, “The bell schedule should just stay the same.”
“There are going to be meetings every other Tuesday, which is twice a month,” she added.
During the meetings, members will look at some of the schedules at other schools in our area. For instance, Capistrano Valley has the same bell schedule our school has. Other schools like Dana Hills have a late start, or San Clemente High School that have a traditional days on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Fridays where all classes meet.
Proponents of a switch to traditional schedule are citing research which claims that students learn more in 50 minute periods that meet everyday. One study shows students learn more in the first year of a foreign language under a traditional bell schedule, but the same study shows that by year two those learning a foreign language under a block schedule are at the same level or higher in the second language.
The group must weigh the benefits of different bell schedule plans before the proposals go to all staff for a vote. According the CUEA contract with the district teachers decide what bell schedule to implement, not administrators.
There are limitations to adjusting the be schedule, such as our school can not leave later than 2:45pm. Students must have at the most 360 minutes with teachers, and teachers must have 280 minutes at most.