Poll: Are Middle School Schedule Changes a Good Idea?

Central Bucks administrators and school board members may think that recently proposed schedule changes at the district's middle schools are a positive move, but a growing coalition of parents decidedly do not.

Administrators on Feb. 14 proposed changing the middle school day so students will take six classes instead of seven, and each class will last 56 minutes rather than the current 46 minutes.

The move would eliminate one of the students' current two daily "special"  periods. It also would eliminate one course offering, computer applications, thereby eliminating the eight jobs of the teachers who now teach those classes.

The school board members approved the schedule change the same night it was proposed to the public.

Administrators touted the move as a way to increase the amount of time students spend on core academic subjects. They also said it would offer students more choices in the electives they take, since the only "special" class that would be required would be health and physical education in seventh grade.

But a group of parents deeply concerned about the changes are calling for board members to rescind their approval to give the policy change more time for study.

They've formed a Facebook page, Save our CB Middle Schools, and plan to attend Tuesday night's school board meeting.

So today, we're giving you a chance to sound off on the proposed plan. Do you think it's a good idea to change the middle school schedule? Vote in the poll, and feel free to explain your reasoning in the comment section.

Want to attend the school board meeting? It starts at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 28 at the Educational Services Center, 16 Welden Dr.