PSS to maximize resources using block schedule

The Public School System plans to adopt the block schedule, particularly for the junior and high school levels, as another move to maximize learning using minimal resources.

Board member Marja Lee Taitano brought this proposal to PSS officials during the fiscal and budget committee hearing in preparation for the next school year.

She pointed out that some school principals have completed the training on the block scheduling and it should be implemented next school year.

Marianas High School principal Dr. Jim Denight, who attended the training, will present a workshop in April to introduce this type of scheduling to teachers.

Block schedule allows students to spend more time in a single subject. For instance, students at MHS usually have five to six classes a day, each one would last around 45 minutes.

Instead of following this marathon of classes, he said students will have three in a day but each will last over an hour.

“Teachers will have more time to work with their students,” he said. It will also give students enough time to complete their workbooks and even do their homework.With this schedule, teachers will need to prepare lessons for a longer period.

MHS tried this schedule during its intercession period and it earned good reviews from both teachers and students.

“They (teachers) really got to know the students,” he said, “the students have a lot of work.” But still the school will look at the data gathered from the evaluation. He heard similar good reviews on block schedule from the Japanese students who recently visited MHS.

However, even if schools will adopt the block scheduling, the same number of teachers are needed, he said.

The PSS officials were looking at this schedule to cut-down on personnel while learning continues to take place.