1. COMPREHENSIVE HIGH SCHOOL’S SCHEDULING PROPOSAL
NORWALK PUBLIC SCHOOLS

2. The High School Scheduling Committee Members
Glenn Couture…… Norwalk High School
Anthony Daddona………....Central Office
Maureen Ireland…………….Norwalk High School
Raymond Manka… Norwalk High School
Katherine Okrentowich…..Brien McMahon High School
Edward Singleton……………Central Office
Thomas Seuch…… Brien McMahon High School
Barbara Wood…… Brien McMahon High School

3. The High School Scheduling Committee’s Charge
This committee was formed in the Fall of the school year to re-exam the daily schedule at both comprehensive high schools. The goal of this committee is to propose a mutually agreed upon schedule that will ultimately benefit both communities of learners in an effort to comply with the CSDE anticipated increase of graduation credits for the class of 2020.

4. Priorities of the Committee
Student Engagement
Attention
Attendance
Time on Task
Focused Learning Time
Contact time with Students
Increased quality time with students
Increased Course Offerings
Meeting the new CSDE credit requirement for 2020

5. The Process Total of nine meetings: 6 in-district, 3 off-site;
Committee members researched and reviewed comprehensive high school schedules, both locally and nationally;
Committee members visited Brookfield High School, New Fairfield High School, and The Academy of Information, Technology and Engineering, Stamford;
Committee members deliberated to design a mutually agreed upon schedule;
Committee members will present findings to their respective high schools;
Committee members will present their recommendations to NPS BOE in the late Spring of the school year;
Professional development will begin during the Fall of the school year;
Implementation to begin during the school year.

6. Meeting Dates Tuesday, October 14, 2014 Tuesday, October 28, 2014
Tuesday, November 11, 2014
Tuesday, December 2, 2014 (Brookfield High School)
Wednesday, December 3, 2014 (New Milford High School)
Wednesday, December 17, 2014 (AITE, Stamford)
Tuesday, January 6, 2015
Tuesday, March 10, 2015
Thursday, April 2, 2015

7. Models Examined

8. Brookfield High School
Daily Schedule
A/B Schedule Matrix and Lunch Options

9. Blocks are 83 minutes each Lunch and Flex are 24 minutes each
Lunch Option View
Lunch Option 1
Lunch Option 2
1   7:15-8:38 (83)
2   8:43-10:06 (83)
Lunch/Flex   10:11-10:35 (24)
3   10:11-11:34 (83)
Flex/Lunch   10:40-11:04 (24)
Lunch/Flex   11:39-12:03 (24)
3   11:09-12:32 (83)
Flex/Lunch   12:08-12:32 (24)
4   12:37-2:00 (83)

10. New Milford High School

11. Academy of Information Technology and Engineering
Daily Schedule
Period:
Start Time:
End Time: 1
7:25 AM
8:53 AM 2
8:58 AM
10:26 AM
(Lunch Wave 1) 3
10:31 AM 11:05 AM
11:00 AM 12:32 PM
3 (Lunch Wave 2)
10:31 AM 12:03 PM
11:59 AM 12:32 PM 4
12:37 PM
2:05 PM

12. Connections (Advisory) Schedule:
Period:
Start Time:
End Time: 1
7:25 AM
8:40 AM
Connections
8:45 AM
9:29 AM 2
9:34 AM
10:49 AM
3 Class:    Lunch:        
11:30 AM 10:54 AM
12:45 PM 11:25 AM
3 Class:    Lunch:
10:54 AM 12:14 PM
12:09 PM 12:45 PM 4
12:50 PM
2:05 PM

13. Proposed BLOCK SCHEDULING BENEFITS CHALLENGES
More time to complete assignments in class under teacher supervision
Opportunity to take additional classes/credits
Ability to complete multiple activities
Reteach within the same class period
More time to use technology
Fewer transitions
Continuous planning time
College and career readiness
Adequate professional development
Classes seem extra long
Students maintaining focus
Abbreviated Schedules
Fast paced curriculum
Impact of teacher/ student absences
Sustained motivation over time
Effective use of extra class time

14. Norwalk High School ROTATING SCHEDULE BENEFITS CHALLENGES
Contact with students 4-5 days a week;
Chronically tardy students will not miss the same class each morning;
Engagement varies with time of day;
Class periods are moderate—neither too long nor too short
Confusion for students (new students and special groups);
Difficult for part-time staff;
Planning time has to be accommodate carefully;
Over abundance of study halls (students can have multiple study hall periods daily

15. Brien McMahon High School TRADITIONAL SCHEDULE BENEFITS CHALLENGES
Students are seen daily
Misses less material if teacher/student are absent
Slightly more instructional time
Consistency in routine
Increased transitions
Less course offerings
Some subject areas may struggle with decreased lesson/activity time
Lunch = one class period

16. NFT CONSIDERATIONs BENEFITS CHALLENGES
In all of the schools there
was no loss of staff due to
scheduling change. (two
schools added staff within
two years of implementation).
The teaching loads remained
the same (5 divisions for each teacher)
Each teacher was guaranteed a prep
everyday averaging in length of
minutes.
Science teachers were now able to teach five divisions due to the loss of Lab Periods allowing for more electives.
Process allowed for other teachers to visit and observe different schedules.
Slight loss of contact time for AP science classes.  
Training for handling longer periods was essential.