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Elective argument Mail Tribune / Jim Craven Sixth-grader Chantel Arias, 11, studies in a book-lined corner of her social studies classroom Tuesday at Eagle Point Junior High School. She and nearly three dozen of her peers are part of a pilot program in preparation for the switch to two new middle schools, scheduled to open in fall 2003. Eagle Point middle schools may switch to a more academic curriculum; some worry that students might lose interest By DAMIAN MANN Mail Tribune EAGLE POINT - Plans for a curriculum makeover at two new middle schools have sparked heated debate among school officials and the community. The district wants to convert to a curriculum that stresses reading, writing and mathematics over electives because eighth-graders aren't performing well on state tests. Last school year, 55 percent of eighth-graders didn't meet standards in reading and 69 percent didn't meet them in mathematics. At present, students at Eagle Point Junior High School have more latitude than at other schools in choosing electives such as woodworking or home economics, district officials say. School board members will meet at 4 p.m. Thursday at the district office to discuss how these issues may affect construction using $34 million in voter-approved bonds to build two new middle schools. A shift to a more academic program worries school board and community members who say students won't remain as interested in a school that limits electives. Board chairman Fred Thomas said it is time for the district to change to a curriculum that helps students score higher on the assessment scores. "We have a Cadillac elective program, which is all well and good, but it doesn't work when the kids don't learn to read and write," said Thomas. Placing less emphasis on elective courses will offer students a less appealing curriculum, said board member Yvonne Fletes. "I don't want to spend all of this taxpayer money for a new building and find out our children aren't getting the same level of educational opportunities," she said. The district hopes to have curriculum changes adopted by the time the schools open in White City and Eagle Point in fall 2003. Eagle Point parent Jeri Marlia worries that the district will cut shop and home economics and limit health and physical education classes. Curriculum changes were not part of the original ballot measure, she said, so district officials should do a better job explaining this to the community. "I want to be included in the decisions affecting my children," she said. Another curriculum proposal that met opposition from parents at a recent board meeting was moving sixth-graders to the seventh-and-eighth-grade junior high next year in preparation for the new middle schools, which will house sixth through eighth grades. "I am appalled and disgusted that so much work has already been done to make this happen next year without any communication to parents whose children it will affect," Marlia said at the meeting. The school district since has backed off on its plans. But Superintendent Bill Jones said the decision wasn't based on community opposition, but on problems accommodating the sixth-graders in the junior high's aging and crowded facilities. Eagle Point is the only district in the county that hasn't started the middle school program in full, though a pilot program of about 30 to 35 sixth-graders has been started to alleviate overcrowding at Little Butte Elementary across the street. Reach reporter Damian Mann at 776-4476, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.