Posted at: 09/21/2009 10:43 PM
Updated at: 09/22/2009 7:43 AM
By: Donny Rowles

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Possible Changes to the School Day

(ABC 6 NEWS) -- To help brace for potential budget cuts at Rochester high schools, the district is looking at adjusting student schedules to save money.
 
About 25 concerned parents came out Monday night to hear schedule change options the district is considering.

"My major concern for any proposed schedule revamping is that we would be eliminating choice,” says parent Lucinda Cutrer.
 
All three options would shrink the high school lunch period from an hour to 30 minutes. The extra 30 minutes could be used for things like tutoring, school clubs, and additional courses. Some schedules would mean more class options for students than others.
 
District officials say regardless of whether or not the district changes their schedule, or which schedule they choose, kids will have the same great opportunities to excel during and after high school.
 
"Providing options that allow the students to have a rigorous course load and to take key electives that will help prepare them for whatever they want to do after high school," says Rochester Mayo high school Principal Tim Dorway. 
 
Parents asked what the best options are for kids education and will they still get all the important courses?
 
Dorway says yes, all three schedules allow flexibility in classes for kids.
 
"The concern I have is why are we doing this? Is it simply a financial benefit or is this a schedule that hasn't worked over the years?" said Lucinda Cutrer.
 
Dorway says yes, money is a big reason for the change, financial savings is one of the things the district is looking at when evaluating schedule options.
 
One of the schedule changes would result in teachers teaching more classes than they do now.
 
That would translate into the district needing 24 fewer teachers than they have now, and a savings of about $1.4-million.
 
The process will continue for several months and the school board will eventually vote on whether a schedule change should happen, and if so, which schedule should be chosen.