Administrators Prepare for Seven-Period Day | News

In February the Bibb County Board of Education voted to return to the seven-period day. The change will take effect beginning with the 2013-2014 school year. Associate Superintendent of Zone 3 Terrence Martin and Rutland High School Principal Dr. Jerri Hall are assisting with the transition and spoke with Department of Communications PR Specialist Josephine Bennett.

What was behind the decision to go to a seven-period day?

Mr. Martin: It goes back to the District’s Strategic Plan. One of the areas we wanted to look at was school structure and ways to save money without compromising what we could give to students. Reducing the number of classes from eight to seven per year cuts down on instructional costs and aligns better with the recently adopted Common Core standards, which are based on students being in class from 50-60 minutes a day.

How do teachers feel about the switch?

Dr. Hall: Teachers are actually in favor of the seven-period day because students will have all year to master the standards. This will help our students prepare more for the End of Course tests and AP (Advanced Placement) exams.

Does this give students more opportunities for make-up work?

Mr. Martin: When we look at starting school in August and ending in May that means students will have more time to recover and receive a passing grade. Right now we compress that class into one semester, not two.

What will you be doing between now and the fall to get ready?

Dr. Hall: Mainly we’ll have to work on the master schedule. We’ve also got to have more textbooks, but that has already been put into the plan so we’re prepared for that.

You plan to scale back Computer Applications classes.

Mr. Martin: We’re going to reach back to our eighth, seventh and sixth grade to make sure that our middle school students are afforded opportunities to be exposed to some technology-based classrooms. Computer Applications will still be offered in high school, just not required.

Dr. Hall: It’s also important to note that the Computer Applications requirements are embedded into the Common Core curriculum as the state makes changes to the requirements.

To find out more about the seven-period day, listen to the full interview with Associate Superintendent of Zone 3 Terrence Martin and Rutland High School Principal Dr. Jerri Hall on the District's website by clicking here.