Board Nixes Flexible School Program
After a sometimes heated discussion, the GCISD Board of Trustees, by a 6 – 1 vote, disapproved an Optional Flexible School Program at their meeting May 12. Doug Schaefer cast the lone vote supporting the program. The program had been presented at the April board meeting (see Glasscock County News, April 16) as a possibility for the next school year.
Board President Karla Hoelscher said there has been a lot of concern in the community about the program, and most board members reported having been contacted regarding it. They said most people were opposed to the idea. K. Hoelscher asked Principal Ken Hoskins if the goal of the program was to have more kids pass the TAKS test, and he said yes, and to get exemplary status for the school.
Some of the points brought out in the board’s discussion were: many people think kids miss too much school now for various reasons (4-H, athletics, UIL, etc.), and don’t need to miss more; it’s not good in families for one or two kids to get to stay at home while another has to go to school because of lower grades; kids with low grades should get more help in the school period known as Prime Time – higher performing students could work on UIL or ACT/SAT preparation during that time; in the elementary school, only about 10 percent of each class needs extra work; 10 scattered days are not likely to help much; cramming for a test doesn’t help kids retain material like long-term study does.
In disapproving the program, the board said it was reflecting the wishes of most people in the community.