LaSalle High School students in St. Ignace will be switching from block scheduling back to traditional, daily classes for the 2009-2010 school year. The decision was made by the school administration because scheduling was becoming increasingly difficult as more teachers are shared between the high school and middle school.

For example, Jason Byma, who teaches band for 6th through 12th grades, was finding it difficult to schedule back-and-forth between a traditional schedule at the middle school and block scheduling at the high school.

In last year's block scheduling system, days of the month were divided into three color-coded blocks, black, white, and gold. Each color corresponded with a particular class schedule for each student. For instance, on black days, a student may take a seminar period, U.S. History, Art, Chemistry and Geography, on white days take a seminar period, Algebra, Art, Band, and Geography, and on gold days take U.S. History, Algebra, Band, Chemistry, and a seminar period.

These school days were scheduled sequentially as white, gold, and black, causing students and teachers to have different class schedules on different days of the week throughout the month, depending on which days white, gold, and black blocks fell on.

Explaining the decision to the school board during its Monday, July 13, meeting, Superintendent Mike Springsteen said the school got on board with the push in the early 1990s to move to block schedule, and has since seen arguments for both ways of scheduling classes.

"We need to have a consistent schedule," Mr. Springsteen said. "It's mainly a pragmatic decision."

Andrew Long, who will be teaching math and science at both the high school and middle school next fall, said he has seen the benefits of both scheduling strategies.

"They both have their benefits, and both have their challenges," Mr. Long said. "I know that there are a lot of teachers who I've talked to that are looking forward to going back to the regular schedule."

The daily schedule holds students and teachers more accountable, he said, since lesson plans and assignments for each class need to be completed every day instead of only a couple times each week.

"It's better for the students, in my opinion," he said. The block scheduling allowed students to get more accomplished each class period, Mr. Long said, but often used up some of that time in catching up on the last week's lesson.

Mr. Byma said he was happy about the change both because it would give his bands a break from long, grueling practices and because it is indirectly saving money for the school district.

By sharing more teachers between subjects and buildings, and through other cost-cutting measures, the district has trimmed a significant amount from their budget without laying off any teachers, and that is too be commended, he said.

"I have to give 100% support and recognition to our administration for making the cuts without laying anyone off," Mr. Byma said. "I'll get to see my kids every single day, too; I'm very excited about that."

Board Looks at Extending Bus Millage

The St. Ignace Public Schools district is considering asking voters for an extension of the 0.25 mill tax levy to help pay for buses that was passed in 2004. The 6-year millage, which was set to expire in the 2009 tax year, was paying off loans taken out in 2004 to buy new buses for the district.

As those interest-free loans are about to be paid off, the district finds itself again with buses that should soon be replaced, Mr. Springsteen said.

Of the seven buses owned by the school, four are 2002 or older, and the two oldest buses were made in 1997 and 1999.

"Now, some of our buses are getting older again," Mr. Springsteen said. "The time to consider that is this year."

If considered by the school board, the measure would be placed on the May 4, 2010 election. Because it would be an extension of an existing millage, the measure would not increase existing taxes.

"I think it's something we need to do," trustee David Latva said.

School Board Officers, Committees Reorganized

During it's annual reorganizational meeting at 6:30 p.m. Monday, July 13, the St. Ignace school board re-elected current officers but shifted some duties.

Jane Weiss was re-elected president of the board, Rick Litzner was re-elected vice-president, and Kathy Campbell and Mike Grogan were re-elected secretary and treasurer, respectively.

The St. Ignace News was again designated as the district's official paper, First National Bank as it's depository, and Harris Group from Traverse City as its auditors. The auditors will begin their yearly audit at the school next week.

Superintendent Mike Springsteen was also designated to post public notices of meetings and sign for the board on several routine contracts and agreements. The regular board meeting date was again set for 7 p.m. at the Middle School Library on the second Monday of each month for the 2009-2010 school year.

For the new school year, the following committee nominations were made and approved by the board: Finance Committee: Mike Grogan, Rick Litzner, and Jane Weiss Personnel Committee: Dave Latva, Ann Massey, and Sean Arthur Policy Committee: Kathy Campbell, Jane Weiss, and Mike Grogan Community Resource: Dave Latva, Rick Litzner, and Sean Arthur District Wide: Sean Arthur, Ann Massey, Jane Weiss Elementary/Middle: Kathy Campbell and Jane Weiss High School: Rick Litzner, Mike Grogan, and Dave Latva

All School Board meetings, including committees, are open to the public. The next meeting is scheduled for Monday, August from 10 at 7 p.m. at the Middle School Library.

Hours for the schools and central office in St. Ignace will be Monday thru Friday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. for the remainder of the summer. School is set to begin Tuesday, September 8.