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Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend April 29, 2003 Hedrick Middle School seventh-grader Mitzy Picazo works on a bridge-building project during Introduction to Technology class Monday. The elective will not be offered next year. Mail Tribune / Bob Pennell Caught in the middle Medford’s middle schools lose elective classes, staffers to budget ax By JILL BRISKEY Mail Tribune In one corner of John Kline’s classroom, a handful of Hedrick Middle School students on Monday pieced together miniature bridges, one tiny section at a time. In another corner, a group of teens lent their voices to a radio broadcast while two boys sat nearby, manipulating an air-powered robot. "This classroom is a smorgasbord they walk down, getting a little of this and a little of that," Kline said of his popular elective class, Introduction to Technology. "Here, it’s find what you want and go for it. The risk of failure is virtually nil." The lessons learned during Introduction to Technology have earned the middle school both praise and support from local businesses and administrators. Advertisement But in preparation for massive budget reductions, Medford school administrators this month decided to cut the popular elective from Hedrick’s 2003- 04 class list, along with drama, Action Science and a handful of music classes. Both Hedrick and McLoughlin middle schools next fall will switch from a daily schedule of four, 80-minute classes to six periods that last 53 minutes each. The change means each school will lose electives, and the number of electives that students can take will be reduced. The middle schools will lose four staff members each through attrition and their positions won’t be filled. The decision is expected to save $649,000 for the school district. To cope with the loss without increasing class sizes, instructors who normally teach electives will be moved to vacant core classes such as math or English. For example, next year Kline will teach science because that teaching position is vacant. "Math and science and English make us employable," added Kline, who is not happy with the decision. "Art and science and these other electives make us human." According to Hedrick Principal Marjorie Lininger, there are several drawbacks to the new system. The change could lead to behavioral problems as students will have more chances to interact between classes. In addition, students who need to make up failed courses such as math or science will be forced to give up one of their few electives. "I think the children will be hurt," said Lininger. "They will have less nurturing, less care. Their educational opportunities will be limited." "We’re only doing this on a temporary basis," added McLoughlin Assistant Principal Amy Tiger. McLoughlin administrators are still in the process of deciding what electives will be cut. "We’re doing it because financially, it’s the most efficient schedule we can have." Both middle schools will lose a dean position next year, leaving two deans at each. Hedrick will lose a dean who serves as a counselor for students facing serious issues, such as pregnancy, suicidal feelings, domestic abuse, anorexia and drugs. Hedrick’s other deans — who deal with disciplinary issues — will receive counseling training to make up for the loss. At McLoughlin, Tiger said the school’s three deans all serve as both counselors and disciplinarians. With enrollment expected to jump by 100 students next year, Tiger said the cut position will mean that only two deans will be available to deal with the problems facing 1,220 students. "I think we’re all kind of in mourning for what we had," she said. There are a few positive aspects to the changes, noted Lininger. In addition to saving the district money, students will actually spend more time in core subject areas. Middle school students are separated into academic teams who attend classes together all two years, and the new schedule won’t affect that program, she added. But many students, such as the teens enrolled in Introduction to Technology, are having a hard time with the decision. "That’s pretty bad because we have fun in this class," said seventh-grader Sara George, who added that the hands-on activities in Kline’s class are "really fun." "It’s not good," said Jacob Colmenero, also a seventh-grader. "This is the kind of class where you don’t have a teacher looking over your shoulder all the time. It’s really too bad." Reach reporter Jill Briskey at 776-4485, or e-mail [email protected] How the cuts break down Hedrick and McLoughlin middle schools together will lose eight positions next year. By not filling the openings, the district will save an estimated $649,000. Hedrick will lose the following electives: Action Science, drama, Introduction to Technology, Current Events, wind ensemble and jazz band. On Monday, McLoughlin administrators had not decided what electives would be cut. However, administrators anticipated that two physical education teaching positions would be frozen. Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2005 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. 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