Will Mundelein High suspend the block schedule?
After two years of study, Mundelein High School officials next week will decide if they should ditch the unusual block bell schedule.
The District 120 board will hold a special meeting Wednesday to determine if the school should keep its current four-classes-per-day schedule, switch to a traditional eight-period day or create an amalgam of the two schemes. The session is set for 6 p.m. at the school, 1350 W. Hawley St.
"This is an important topic that will determine the direction of Mundelein High School well into the future," Superintendent Kevin Myers said.
Adopted in 1996 at a time when Mundelein High's student population had a reputation for behavioral problems and poor scholastic performance, officials wanted to increase time in each class and to reduce time in passing periods to prevent conflicts in the halls.
Today, proponents say the longer periods allow more time for hands-on learning and discourage long lectures. Students have fewer classes each semester, but they can have a more diverse schedule during a high school career because courses are completed quicker.
Critics say the potential gaps between classes in the same subject - such as math or a foreign language - can allow students to forget material.
Officials have talked about the effects of different schedules on student performance during multiple board meetings and public forums this year, as well as the options moving forward.
Board member Jane Siegal praised Myers for keeping the process "fair and open."
"We have listened to everyone's opinion," Siegal said.
Of the 20 public high schools in Lake County, only Mundelein uses a block schedule.
If the board opts to jettison the block schedule, no changes would be made until at least the 2017-18 term, officials have said.