USD 253 Emporia is shifting back to traditional semester scheduling once the 2022-23 academic year begins.
Over the past year, the district has worked to compile input and data on the impacts of the trimester format since its inception in the 2016-17 academic year. Those findings were presented Wednesday evening to the board of education by EHS principal Dathan Fischer.
Fisher says the trimester format has created several pros for students including allowing them to retake certain classes between trimesters and reducing each student’s class load from eight per semester to five per trimester. On the other hand, Fischer reported that the district’s percentage of students failing classes has remained flat since moving away from the semester format. Additionally, Fischer noted that academic data across most major areas of study has not improved since the implementation of the trimester format.
Fischer also reported that during a recent survey amongst EHS staff the majority of teachers, 75.8 percent, preferred the semester format. Ultimately, Fischer stated it was his recommendation that the district return to the semester format which the majority of board members agreed with and voted for 5-2.
Outgoing board members Mike Crouch and Doug Epp were the no votes, with both stating they would prefer to hold off on a decision until the new year. Crouch’s reasoning was that this is a significant decision he feels needed more than a single night of discussions.
An exact class schedule format has yet to be set in stone, however, Fischer says the likely course of action will be for classes to operate on a modified A and B block schedule. Discussions on that topic will continue in the coming weeks along with planning for the 2022-23 enrollment process.
Epp stated he did not feel comfortable approving the switch back to semesters without a formal plan for how classes will operate in place.
Additional information, including Fischer’s presentation, can be found on the district’s website at USD253.org.
In other business Wednesday, board members unanimously approved an interagency agreement with the Kansas Department of Children and Families to establish a student support specialist within the district. The specialist will be responsible for providing district families with support in an effort to prevent “formal DCF involvement with a child protection report.”
The district will post the position for applications in the coming days with the position’s salary, benefits and related expenses to be fully funded through a DCF grant.
The district will post the position for applications in the coming days with the position’s salary to be 100 percent grant-funded.
Separately, the board also received the latest COVID-19 update which recommended no changes to the district’s current mitigation policies for the time being. USD 253 Assistant Superintendent of Business Operations Rob Scheib also presented the latest Building for the Future initiative update from McCownGordon Construction.
The USD 253 Board of Education will next convene on Wednesday, Jan. 12 at 7 pm inside the Mary Herbert Education Center.
