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High schools outline 'portrait of a graduate' plan, propose consistent schedule and later start
Summary
District high‑school leaders presented a continuous improvement plan focused on a portrait of a graduate, smaller ninth‑grade learning communities, common schedule with a later start time, universal screeners and bringing competency‑based programming back to home schools.
East, Preble, West and Southwest high schools presented a coordinated plan July 14 to reshape the high‑school experience around the district’s newly adopted “portrait of a graduate.” The initiative includes organizing ninth‑grade teams, a common daily schedule with later start times, universal screeners through tenth grade, and integrating competency‑based programming into students’ home schools.
Kinsey (last name not specified) and principal Lisa Lipp described four levers of work: how students are organized, use of time, monitoring and responding to student needs, and growing staff capacity. The plan calls for smaller learning communities for ninth graders (variously called “teams” or “hives”), closer collaboration among teachers in core subjects, and early interventions for students who are credit‑deficient so they do not lose access to career pathway programs such as manufacturing or automotive academies.
Schedule changes discussed include a mix of longer “block” classes and shorter classes (“skinnies”), a later start time and a shared schedule across all four high schools that will allow virtual programming and cross‑building offerings. Board members asked about the logistics, and staff said the schedule will phase in and that department chairs, instructional coaches and teachers will be consulted on which courses are blocked and which run shorter. The district plans a district‑wide professional development day in October focused on department chair capacity building.
On assessment and interventions, staff said STAR universal screeners will be re‑installed and used through tenth grade to provide early warning and guide interventions; competency‑based programming (currently housed in an academy at another site) is planned to return to students’ home high schools so credit recovery and competency demonstrations do not require students to leave their school.
No board vote was taken. Staff said they will schedule family listening sessions this summer, pursue teacher and staff input, and return with specifics on schedule design, implementation timelines and communications plans.
