
DATE: Tuesday, May 20, 1997                 TAG: 9705200308

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B1   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY ALETA PAYNE, STAFF WRITER 

DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH                    LENGTH:  103 lines

PRINCESS ANNE'S SHORT DAY ISN'T PLEASING EVERYONE

Staff and students at Princess Anne High School want to continue their unusual daily schedule of almost two years, but they'll need School Board approval to do that.

The ``intensified block'' schedule was born of the fire that turned a cafeteria-less, converted mini-mall into a high school for 15 months. Students did not have a lunch period, and classes for most of them have ended at 12:30, 90 minutes earlier than most other high schools in the city. More than 700 of the 2,000 Princess Anne students take an additional class - known as the fourth block - that now meets until 2:11.

But beyond the time comparisons, the folks at Princess Anne say the schedule has paid off in higher achievement, fewer disciplinary problems and more time for tutoring and individual work with teachers.

So, although they've returned to a restored building, they want to stick with the shorter, more compact day for at least another year while they continue to study its impact.

Princess Anne and two other city high schools had block-scheduling prior to the fire. Unlike the schedule used at most high schools, students using blocks spend more time in the classroom by taking half their classes one day and half the next. On the traditional schedule, students have a lunch and study block, which runs about 90 minutes. Under the intensified schedule, Princess Anne eliminated the lunch and study block.

``There's more time to study and work on your homework before sports,'' said Emma Wright, a sophomore. ``It's easier to go to tutoring sessions and stuff during fourth block.''

The school has instituted a study hall for athletes at the end of the day. And bus runs after the 2:11 dismissal provide transportation for students who want to stay for extra help without waiting to catch the activity bus more than three hours later.

Some school board members, however, are concerned about the large number of students who don't stay on campus for extra classes, extra help or extra-curriculars. The board is expected to vote Tuesday evening whether to continue the intensified schedule.

``They have a real success story. I'm not trying to rain on their parade,'' said board member Rosemary Wilson. ``(But) we're letting kids out with time on their hands.''

In a letter to Wilson, Capt. Al Smith of the Virginia Beach Police precinct that includes Princess Anne, said he and others with the police department were concerned about students being released early. While the letter did not include any crime statistics, national studies have shown that young people are most likely to get into trouble in the hours between dismissal from school and their parents' arrival home from work.

But Herman Groombridge, head of security at neighboring Pembroke Mall, said he has seen no increase in problems caused by students since classes returned to Princess Anne in January.

Board member Dan Arris said he needs additional information before he can make up his mind aboutthe shortened schedule, but what students are doing with those two extra hours is not his top concern.

``I think there's some point when we're not responsible for being moral caretakers of these kids,'' he said. ``I think there are some of us who want to give them another year to see if the numbers hold up.''

But Arris said he also wants to see a staff recommendation on the proposal, and would want other issues considered, such as requiring some students to stay for extra help.

The school is conducting a student survey to determine how the extra time is being used. In the case of 16-year-old Brandon Williams, ``It gives me time to do homework before I go to activities.''

Williams estimates he would be up until 2 a.m. some nights finishing homework if not for the current schedule.

And chemistry teacher Clare Kerr said she loves the shortened schedule. The extra time at the end of the day makes it easier for students to make up labs.

Principal Patricia Griffin said that when the schedule was developed out of necessity, there were concerns, but it turned out ``that our preconceived problems were not problems.

``A lot of good things are happening,'' she said.

Griffin said she has heard no complaints from the community about students causing mischief. Surveys show parents and students support the schedule. Attendance and course averages have increased, while suspensions are down.

The schedule has economic implications that are also of concern, however. When Princess Anne was restored, about $500,000 was spent on a cafeteria that would be used under a shorter schedule for breakfast and a ``mini-lunch'' before the fourth class period at the end of the day, but not for a full lunch for all students. Griffin said it is also used as a common gathering area, but the division would lose about $80,000 in federal money related to the lunch program. And the cost of the additional six afternoon buses is about $18,390.

Wilson said she recognized that those making the request from Princess Anne ``are looking at their school and what's best for their school.'' But she said the decision would have broader ramifications for the division as a whole.

``I'm not against their program,'' she said. ``I'm just trying to weigh everything.'' ILLUSTRATION: Graphic

Block schedule has pros, cons

THE SCHEDULE: After a fire at Princess Anne High School, the

school transferred to a converted mini-mall for 15 months. Students

did not have a lunch period, and classes for most of them ended at

12:30 p.m.

THE CONCERNS: Some school board members are worried about the

large number of students who do not use the extra time for extra

classes or activities - and would have more time on their hands.

THE SUCCESSES: Principal Patricia Griffin says attendance and

course averages have increased, while suspensions are down.

Additionally, there is more time for tutoring and individual work