THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, May 21, 1995 TAG: 9505190223
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 21 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: Elizabeth Thiel
LENGTH: Medium: 57 lines
Progress report
Salem High School Principal E. Wayne Sykes gave an update Tuesday on a pilot program to extend the school day. The program is being conducted this year at his school and two others.
The grade for the program so far: about a B-plus, according to Sykes' summary.
``What we've tried to do is identify chinks in the armor, so to speak,'' he said. ``I think it has been successful in many ways, and I think we can work out the kinks and make it even better next year.''
At Salem, 25 minutes were added to each school day, and the schedule was compressed to allow for another class period. Bayside and Great Neck Middle schools added 15 minutes to their school days.
The idea was to give students more time to accomplish what they needed to do in a school day. On the high school level, the extra class period allowed students to take more electives or other classes they needed to graduate on time.
At the middle schools, the extra time allowed students to enroll in fine arts programs or to get extra help with basic academic skills. Middle school schedules typically make it difficult for students to sign up for electives.
Sykes' report said Salem showed a 40 percent increase in the number of students who enrolled in computer keyboarding classes, considered important for preparing students for the work world. Bayside Middle posted increases in grade point averages, while Great Neck Middle showed a 44 percent increase in the number of students taking foreign language classes.
``I think that's a measure of success, and I commend you for it,'' said School Board Vice Chairman D. Linn Felt, referring to the increase in foreign language enrollment.
Sykes said the staff is working on some of the problems that were identified with the new schedule this year. Less time, for example, was available for teachers to meet with each other and with parents. Also, students had a much heavier homework load, had to start school at 7:15 a.m. and had too little time for class changes and homeroom. New attendance policy
The School Board is considering a new citywide policy for student attendance, drafted by a committee of parents, teachers and principals.
The policy would allow students in most middle and high schools only 12 absences from class per semester; if they missed more, they would receive failing grades. In high schools with block schedules, students would be allowed six absences per semester.
In elementary schools, students who missed more than 24 days in a year could be kept by the principal from advancing to the next grade level.
Attendance rules now differ among schools. by CNB