Page 14 <strong>Palisades</strong> <strong>News</strong> <strong>May</strong> 6, <strong>2015</strong>GIBSONINTL.COM | LEADINGRE.COM | 310.454.4159B R E N T W O O D | M A R I N A D E L R E Y | P A C I F I C P A L I S A D E SO open sunday 2-5pm N new listing $price changeO13620 Romany Drive, Pacific <strong>Palisades</strong>5bd/6ba | $6,750,000 | www.13620RomanyDrive.comTracey Hennessey | 310.622.7425928 Las Lomas, Pacific <strong>Palisades</strong>4bd/4.5ba | $3,495,000 | www.928LasLomasAvenue.comBeverly & Kimberly Gold | 310.496.5995NO1436 Calle del Jonella, Pacific <strong>Palisades</strong>5bd/7ba | $3,195,000Jacqui Bell | 310.266.852016856 Calle de Sarah, Pacific <strong>Palisades</strong>5bd/4.5ba | $3,495,000 | www.16856CalledeSarah.comBeverly & Kimberly Gold | 310.496.59950N$1251 Las Lomas, Pacific <strong>Palisades</strong>4bd/3.5ba | $3,250,000Matthew O’Keefe | 310.429.45523817 Surfwood Road, Malibu3bd/2ba | $1,695,000 | www.3817Surfwood.comSusan Stark | 310.345.7450
<strong>May</strong> 6, <strong>2015</strong> <strong>Palisades</strong> <strong>News</strong> Page 15PaliHi Bell Schedule Changes ProposedBy LAUREL BUSBYStaff Writer<strong>Palisades</strong> Charter High School’s bellschedule has been a central administrationfocus in the teacher contractnegotiations this year (see associatedarticle on page 5).The administration’s goal has been tolook at the alternating class schedule, whichwas put into effect 17 years ago, and potentiallyimplement changes for the 2016-17school year, Principal Pam Magee said inan interview prior to the current impasse.“Over 17 years, a lot of things havechanged, and it seems logical that theschedule might not meet student needs,”Magee said. She suggested looking at theissue with several questions in mind. “Whatare the options? What are the core needs ofstudents? What can we do to address them?Where can we shift some things to addressthose needs?”Magee suggests at least four areas wherechanges could be beneficial: 1) the creationof student advisory periods; 2) weeklyteacher meeting times; 3) increased collegecoursework options; and 4) more frequentmath and foreign language instruction. Astable schedule that doesn’t rotate eachweek is also a recommendation to help facilitatesome of these goals.The administration has singled out theseareas for varied reasons, Magee said. Studentadvisories could provide varied enrichment,such as SAT preparation, collegecounseling, psychological counseling, anddeeper instruction in AP subjects. Weeklyteacher meetings would allow time forprofessional development and also timefor departments to meet and coordinatetheir efforts to address student needs.In addition, the administration wouldlike to improve the availability of collegecourses for students, Magee said. One waywould be through stabilizing the scheduleto a non-rotating one, which would increaseopportunities to partner with communitycolleges. Currently most PaliHi classes alternatefrom Mondays/Wednesdays/Fridaysone week to Tuesdays and Thursdaythe next, so coordinating programs withcommunity colleges is a challenge.Math and foreign language instructionalso could potentially be improved by increasingthe number of meeting times eachweek, Magee said. Currently, a higher percentageof PaliHi math students are receivingDs and Fs as compared to othersubject areas.Previous efforts at considering bell schedulechanges have been after school via theschool’s Long-term Strategic Planning com -mittee. These meetings are attended by aMichael C. Solum, PrincipalInsurance and Financial Services Agent881 Alma Real Dr., Suite T-10Pacific <strong>Palisades</strong>, CA 90272(310) 454-0805msolum@farmersagent.comPaliInsurance.comLicense #OG51003relatively small percentage of teachers, accordingto both faculty and administration.This school year, Magee tied the schedulediscussion to teacher salary negotiations toensure that the matter is given a thoroughvetting. “We think it’s so important thatwe’re going to link it to contracts,” Mageesaid. “This sparked teacher interest—be itpro or con—to be part of a really seriousconversation.”Changes to the bell schedule, which nowconsists of six alternating classes that area little over 100 minutes long and one 55-minute daily class, require a faculty voteof support unless the schedule reverts toa typical six classes per day schedule, althoughsuch a schedule is not the administration’srecommendation.Instead, administrators seek an explorationto find the best option for students,Magee said. Any schedule change also requiresfinancial changes as most are notcost-neutral, so the monetary aspect is anotherconsideration.Emotions have been intense in someteachers as they consider this issue, particularlybecause it is tied to contract negotiations,according to Stephen Klima, an Englishteacher and union representative. Currently,the majority of faculty support theexisting bell schedule, he said in an interviewbefore the recent impasse declaration.A faculty survey found that 72 percentof responding teachers approved of the[current] bell schedule, almost 16 percentwanted more information before decidingabout a new schedule and 9 percent supportedchanges. Klima added that “we’venever discussed it as a faculty.”A revised bell schedule was proposed toteachers in January. They voted it down 108to 2, Klima said. That schedule had twodays with advisories, and it didn’t changeeach week.Klima recommended polling studentsand parents to find out their views aboutbell schedule adjustments. The union alsosought votes by not only faculty, but alsoparents and students, before approving anew schedule in order to ensure that allgroups support any modification. He saidthat it’s important that the school doesn’tintroduce “change for change’s sake.”He added that the existing bell schedulemight be able to accommodate neededchanges, such as splitting an approximately100-minute course into two halves dividedbetween math and English in order to offerdaily math instruction for students whoneed it. He supports considering optionsthat retain the current schedule, but he isalso open to new ideas.“If you show us something better, we’llbuy into it,” Klima said. “If it’s good forstudents and good for education, then it’llsell itself.”In a separate interview, Magee agreedthat the faculty seeks the best option for itsstudents. “The teachers at <strong>Palisades</strong> CharterHigh School are really focused on students’needs. We’ll have many more discussions.We need a little more time to look at thedata and look at the research. What arethe possibilities?”Health teacher Susan Ackerman said in aphone interview that although many teacherswere not happy about the January bellschedule proposal and the discussion link tocontract negotiations, she’s optimistic thatthe process will benefit the school and mightoffer helpful adjustments to the schedule.“It’s a real hot-button issue, because itaffects the whole school,” said Ackerman,who enjoys the current schedule, but isopen to change. “Let’s see what we can getout of this. Let’s make it a win-win and nota right-wrong . . . It will be fascinating tosee how this unravels.”Community YogaAt Woman’s ClubCertified yoga instructor Alison Burmeister,co-owner of The Yogurt Shoppe, teachescommunity yoga classes (all levels) Mondaysat 9:45-11 a.m. at the Woman’s Club,901 Haverford. Beginners are welcome. Theclass is donation based ($15 suggested). Participantsshould bring a mat, water, toweland a smile. Visit: alisonburmeister.com.Come See Me at The COMMUNITY EXPO on Sunday, <strong>May</strong> 17th!NEXT ISSUE: WEDNESDAY, MAY 20Send us your comments and suggestions tospascoe@palisadesnews.comGet Your Advertising in Place Now!Contact Jeff, (310) 573-0150 or jeffridgway@palisadesnews.comor Grace at gracehiney@palisadesnews.comTHANK-YOU TO OUR ADVERTISERS!Please patronize them, and tell themyou saw their ad in the <strong>News</strong>!310.230.7377hollydavis@coldwellbanker.comwww.hollydavis.comCalBRE #00646387HOLLYDAVISPREVIEWS ESTATES DIRECTORWhether you are buying or selling a home,condominium or income property, I will produce theresults you are looking for and have the right to expect.
- Page 1: Vol. 1, No. 13 • May 6, 2015 Unit
- Page 4 and 5: Page 4 Palisades News May 6, 2015Pa
- Page 6 and 7: Page 6 Palisades News May 6, 2015He
- Page 8 and 9: Page 8 Palisades News May 6, 2015PA
- Page 10 and 11: Page 10 Palisades News May 6, 2015T
- Page 12 and 13: Page 12 Palisades News May 6, 2015N
- Page 16 and 17: Page 16 Palisades News May 6, 2015T
- Page 18 and 19: Palisades NewsPage 18 May 6, 2015Pa
- Page 20 and 21: Page 20 Palisades News May 6, 2015D
- Page 22 and 23: Page 22 Palisades News May 6, 2015J
- Page 24 and 25: Palisades NewsPage 24 May 6, 2015Sk
- Page 26 and 27: Page 26 Palisades News May 6, 2015F
- Page 28 and 29: Palisades NewsPage 28 May 6, 2015Am
- Page 30 and 31: Page 30 Palisades News May 6, 2015D
- Page 32: Page 32 Palisades News May 6, 2015M
Change language