Timp parents protest
Schedule-change decision lacked public input, they say
The parents, many of whom held orange balloons that corresponded with one of the high school's colors, also said they disliked how the decision was made.
"We as a community have come forward when funds were requested for leeway and bond issues," said parent Joey Larson, referring to a bond election in June in which residents approved tax increases for new buildings and hiring of extra staff. He said the lack of public involvement in the decision showed a lack of appreciation for that support.
Timpview High Principal George Bayles determined last week that the 1,700-student school needed to change from a seven-period traditional schedule to an eight-period block plan to meet the new graduation requirements facing the class of 2011, who will enter school this fall as freshmen.
Under the proposed schedule, students would have all eight classes for about 35 minutes each on Mondays.
Four of the classes would meet on Tuesdays and then again on Thursdays for 85 minutes each. On Wednesdays and Fridays, students would attend the other four classes, also for 85 minutes each.
Students will lose almost an hour a week in each class, which drew criticism from parents who tout the school's 85 percent passage rate of Advanced Placement courses, the highest in the state.
Bayles, in a telephone interview hours before the Board of Education meeting, said he made the decision because students will struggle with new graduation requirements imposed by the state.
"(Currently) 50 percent of our kids can't meet the core requirements without taking electronic high school, BYU home study or anything like that if they want to take band, art or music," he said.
Timpview's schedule has been discussed for six years, Bayles said, and his decision was made with the blessing of the school's community council and faculty.
Steve McDaniel resigned from the school's community council in protest.
"I felt the public input process was insufficient," he said.
E-mail: lhancock@desnews.com
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