[BHS etree] ADMIN: Scheduling Changes -- Upcoming Meetings, "P" credit addressed

[bhs at idiom.com]

Please do not contact the e-tree; contact: Janet Huseby [mailto:jhuseby at pacbell.net]

The Scheduling Committee, charged with the task of recommending a new bell schedule for next year, is nearing the end of its task. The reconfiguration is being formulated in response to the School Redesign Plan approved by the School Board last year. The most likely recommendation will be a trimester system in which students have three 12 week sessions (or trimesters) with five classes per session. Each class will be offered daily for approximately 70 minute periods (currently we have 55 minutes). Under the proposed system, students will be able to take 15 courses each year instead of the current 12. (Until fairly recently, BHS students had an eight period day with 45 minute periods which allowed greater access to elective classes.) 

1. The last public information meeting on the proposed changes will be held this Thursday Nov. 5 in the school library at 7 p.m. If you have not yet attended a meeting, please make an effort to attend. 

2. Nov. 9 the last scheduled meeting of the Scheduling Committee will be held from 3:45 to 6 p.m. in Conference Room B. Members of the public may sit in on the meeting. At this meeting the scheduling committee will make their final recommendation for changes. 

3. On  Nov. 16 there will be an all day meeting (9:45 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.) of the School Governance Council to discuss and vote on the proposal presented by the Scheduling Committee. This meeting, to be held in the foyer of the Community Theater, is open to the public. 

4. Concerns re "P" credit. The University of California reviews all courses offered by public high schools in the state. Courses that are deemed rigorous and comprehensive are given a "P" rating or College Prep rating. In order to qualify for the university system, a California student must take four years of P English classes, two years of P foreign languages, etc. (The exact requirements may be found in your student's Organizer.) 

There has been some concern expressed that the proposed trimester classes will not be accepted as college prep courses by the University of California. This is not the case. A number of other California high schools already have a trimester system. Their courses have received P ratings. In addition, the BUSD administration both at the high school and district level has consulted with the Office of the President of the University of California. If BHS moves to the proposed trimester system, our classes that have already received a P rating will continue to be rated College Prep.