Central High School teacher demands clarity on scheduling and class sizes for next year

The Davenport Schools Board meeting held on May 27, 2025, addressed several key issues regarding the upcoming school year, particularly focusing on scheduling and class sizes. The meeting began with a member expressing dissatisfaction about the lack of transparency surrounding the new schedule, which had been a concern since discussions began in August.

The speaker highlighted that there had been insufficient communication regarding the changes, particularly in relation to class sizes and lab time for vocational courses. It was noted that students would only receive 17 to 20 minutes of actual lab time, significantly less than in previous years. This reduction raised concerns about the feasibility of managing class sizes, especially in specialized classes like welding, where the speaker pointed out that Central High School has only nine welding booths available for potentially 25 students.

The speaker emphasized the disparities between different schools, noting that while Central has a smaller welding shop, it has a larger auto shop compared to North High School. The lack of clarity regarding the number of students enrolled in these classes and the absence of a finalized schedule for the next year were also highlighted as ongoing issues. The speaker called for more oversight and communication from the administration, expressing frustration over the continued lack of answers.

Following this discussion, the board moved on to the consent agenda, which was accepted without further debate. The meeting concluded with a clear indication that transparency and effective communication will be critical as the district prepares for the upcoming school year.