May 21, 2009

Dear ARHS Parents/Guardians,

The purpose of this letter is to update the community on the high school’s reconsideration of its master schedule.

First, a brief recap. In March of this year, I recommended to the faculty that we consider changing our master schedule from a trimester to a semester. My rationale focused on the cuts to the high school budget that necessitated our requiring two study halls of all students for the upcoming school year. The semester provided a degree of insulation against this increase in students’ schedules of non-instructional time. In a semester schedule, for next year, students would be required to take only one study hall. And, more importantly, if budget cuts continue in subsequent years, the semester format would enable us to have a smaller study hall requirement than a trimester.

The trimester has some considerable strengths as a master schedule. So, my recommendation that we consider a change catalyzed a wide-ranging discussion. The advantages and disadvantages of both master schedules were carefully scrutinized by the faculty.

However, as the discussion continued, time became the overriding variable. There are many issues for schools to address when transitioning to a new master schedule. Not the least of which is the reworking of course curricula. And, as April came and went, it became apparent that, if we were to finally decide to change the master schedule, we would not have left ourselves sufficient time to address all of the transition issues.

Once this became clear, I recommended that we no longer consider a master schedule change for September 2009. However important the master schedule, our deeper interest is to ensure a well-organized school and only with a sufficient amount of planning time would we be able to make this happen.

Therefore, the trimester master schedule will remain in place for at least SY 2009 - 10.

I will communicate again with the school community once we have a final recommendation on a master schedule for SY 2010 and beyond.

Please let me know if you have questions or concerns.

Thank you.

Mark Jackson
Principal