High school hosting two meetings for parents on block schedule

The Cairo High School administration and faculty have proposed reverting back from the seven period school day to the four x four block schedule the school operated under six years ago.
Grady County Board of Education members heard a presentation from CHS Assistant Principal and CTAE Director Todd Gainous and CHS Instructional Coordinator Tammy Donalson about the proposed schedule change.
Now, parents and guardians will have the opportunity to learn more about the school’s proposal and to ask questions and voice comments or concerns.
CHS Interim Principal and Assistant School Superintendent Dr. Kermit Gilliard announced this week two dates on which parental information meetings will be held.
Parents, guardians and concerned citizens are invited to attend either or both meetings. The first meeting will be held next Tuesday, Jan 27 beginning at 6:30 p.m. The second meeting will be held on Monday, Feb. 2 beginning at 6:30 p.m.
Both meetings will be held in the CHS auditorium. A formal presentation on the block schedule will be given and then the floor will be opened for questions or concerns.
“We want as many parents as possible to attend and learn more about what is being proposed. We want parents to have a good understanding of why this change is being proposed and how it can improve student achievement at Cairo High School,” Dr. Gilliard said.
The CHS faculty has voted overwhelmingly in support of making the change.
CHS Asst. Principal Gainous told school board members last week that faculty morale would suffer if the school board voted down the proposed schedule change.
Board chairman Teresa Gee Harris took issue with the CHS presentation saying that it focused on the benefits to teachers more so, in her opinion, than it did on student benefits.
The Cairo High School governing board has already approved of the schedule change and there are some who question if the board of education actually has to take action on the proposal or not.
CHS officials say the schedule was changed to a seven period day in hopes of improving test scores and math scores in particular. According to Dr. Gilliard, the test data from when the school was on block schedule before to the current seven period day do not show where the change improved academic performance.
“What we are doing now is not working so regardless of what schedule is adopted we have to do things differently,” Dr. Gilliard said.