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The Wise County School Board agreed Monday night to look at changes that would prevent starting the school year during the hottest part of summer.
The board authorized Superintendent Gregory Killough to examine the high school schedule for modifications so students, teachers and staff won't have to face sweltering heat in the five older high schools that lack central air conditioning.
"We've got to do what's best for the children,"? board member Betty Cornett said. "That's all I've heard since I've been on the board is "?heat, heat, heat, what are we going to do about the heat?' "?
It was Aug. 9 when students returned to classes, but they have been on a shortened heat schedule from the first day. School now starts at 8 a.m. and ends at 1:30 p.m., before the hottest part of the day.
So far, the schools have been closed for two days due to the sweltering heat and another hour was shaved off the school day for three additional days.
Across the region, temperatures have the middle and upper 90s in recent weeks.
School begins earlier in the year to help students perform better on state Standards of Learning exams and end-of-term tests. Students tend to do better if the tests are taken prior to Christmas break, administrators said.
But some unhappy parents have attended the last two board meetings to complain about the toll the extreme heat has had on those in five of the six high schools. They said pet owners would be jailed if they subjected animals to such heat.
"I think we're going to have to think we are never going to start on the 9th of August unless we have air conditioning everywhere,"? board member Kyle Fletcher said.
The superintendent asked the board for guidance on several possible schedule changes. The current block schedule used at the high schools allows students to take four classes per semester for a total of eight courses each school year. The superintendent said moving to six or seven periods might be the solution.
Students would lose the opportunity to take
four elective courses throughout their high school careers if the block schedule is changed, but learning could improve since students would spend more time on the six or seven subjects they would take.
"I think we need to have it all put out on the table,"? Fletcher said. "Some parents won't like it."?
Board member Monty Salyer expressed interest in the seven-period day, while board member Mark Hutchinson suggested getting input from teachers.
The board voted unanimously to have the superintendent examine all aspects of six and seven periods. The information will be presented to the board during an upcoming session.
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