The South Whidbey Board of Education has its work cut out in deciding what to do with the four-period schedule at the high school.

A hearing Monday night in the South Whidbey High School commons attracted students, teachers, parents and community members offering opinions on the existing schedule and whether it should be modified. Most agreed changes were needed.

An audience of several hundred — heavily weighted with district personnel — got familiar with seven scheduling choices now before the board during a Power Point presentation given by the district’s assistant superintendent, Dan Blanton.

Blanton said the final cut on the options did not come easily to the district’s scheduling committee, which has been studying options to the four-period day for months.

“We actually put about 25 different schedules through the sieve before we came up with these examples,” Blanton said. “No schedule is going to solve all the issues the district needs to address.”

Board president Ray Gabelein commended the committee for its efforts.

“They met our goal and then some,” he said.

After Blanton’s presentation, the public got its say. Nineteen audience members commented on the high school’s class schedule. Most asked for changes.

Former school board member John Peticolas said he firmly believes the current schedule is not the best for students.

“It’s obvious change is needed,” he said. “I hope whatever schedule the board adopts it addresses the issue of class time. It is impossible to teach more in less time.”

He said several people at the meeting, who were unsatisfied with the scheduling work the district has done, did their own research to prepare for Monday’s hearing. He said the public needs to know more about student test scores than the “feel good stuff” on student surveys.

“It doesn’t reflect well that members of the community have done more research than the district,” Peticolas said. “We need objective data.”

Two parents of high school students, Will Collins and Don Primrose, supported the four-period block now in use. Collins was enthusiastic over the number of credits offered under the four-period day schedule — 32, versus the 24 school officials say schools with six-period days offer.

“My daughter was in Argentina for her junior year and received no credit,” Collins said. “Thank goodness she was able to take eight credits in her senior year at South Whidbey High School, enabling her to graduate with her class.” Collins said his two younger children are also having a good experience with the schedule. At class registration time, the pair went through the process “like a hot knife through butter,” he said.

“They were able to get the classes they needed at the right time.”

Primrose said 90-minute class periods at the school allows for better relationships between students and teachers. In addition, he said, students like the schedule.

“We need to listen to them, they are young adults,” he said.

Retired teacher Dorothy Reed went further in her support of the high school’s current schedule. She said some of the allegations against the block schedule discount the integrity of the educators who researched the schedule when it was adopted 10 years ago.

Jerry Hill of Freeland agreed there are real benefits to having long periods. But, he said, classes like math, science and reading should be taught all year long.

From a student perspective, sophomore Katy Riggs — who is the daughter of school board member Bob Riggs — said 90 minutes allow her to comprehend a subject better. She said the extra time is not for doing homework.

“I have not had any wasted time in my classes,” she said.

Another student, Jackie Ballog, the daughter of high school teacher Greg Ballog, said she hopes the four-period day will remain.

“It helps me learn and study. There is enough time to complete hands on projects such as lab experiments.” She also believes the extra time with teachers is extremely beneficial, she said.

Outspoken four-period day opponent Jamie McNett questioned how the schedule, which provides students with less “seat time” per course, can be better than more traditional schedules that provide more teaching time.

McNett also alleged that more South Whidbey students drop out of high school than graduate from college.

“Many students are getting the base of their education here,” he said. “It is the obligation of the board to ensure that core classes are as strong as they can be.”

Jeff Greene, a high school computer teacher and father of four, commented that not all kids function at the same level. The longer periods at the high school can help them learn.

“I have the option of pushing them through in 55 minutes or working with them one-on-one as I can in 90 minutes,” he said “If we take away my ability to do that some students will suffer.”

Art teacher Rich Conover took a different tack than Greene. He said teaching is an art form, perfected in longer classes. He urged the board not to bail out on the four-period day.

“The beauty of the four- period day is I have time to truly work with these people and launch them so they can continue to learn throughout their lives,” Conover said.

Gwen Styke, a mother of two who did independent research on block schedules and on other high schools in Washington state, said there should be some balance. Some classes should be carried all year. Quoting her research, she said none of the top 20 high schools in Washington state are using the block schedule.

Rufus Rose, a member of the public who attended all the scheduling committee meetings, supported a combination schedule. He said that would give more attention to students at the mid-point of the Bell curve.

“We have programs for the gifted and the special needs students but not those at the mid-point,” Rose said.

Most of the crowd supported a hybrid schedule that includes some longer classes with year-long classes for the core subjects. No one suggested returning to a standard six-period day.