Block scheduling is a growing trend in Albemarle County, one that was debated at Monday, March 7ths school board meeting, but still not voted on.
Parents and students of Henley Middle School filled the room and mostly spoke out against longer classes.
They were concerned it would cut out time for the arts. Instead of having band or chorus daily, art classes will meet every other day. The school board hopes this will make room for longer periods of language arts and math even though it would also skip days. Either way, parents and students made their voices heard.
"I think it's a really important part in any child's education and I don't think we want to cut back on that; I think we want to enhance it," said parent Kathleen Borowitz.
"First and foremost our responsibility as a school board is to make sure that all kids that leave middle school are ready to do High School work," said Albemarle School Board Chairman Gordon J. Walker.
Henley Middle School is only one of five in the county without block scheduling. The board did not vote on the issue Monday evening, but plans to soon.
