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Kenston High outlines new master-schedule timeline and No New Instruction periods
Summary
High-school administrators told the board they are finalizing a new master schedule after moving to a new scheduling platform, conducting one-on-one counselor meetings for grades 8–11, and planning No New Instruction (NNI) periods and literacy-focused interventions for next year.
Kenston High School administrators gave the board a detailed update on April 14 about the master-schedule process, the district’s new scheduling software and instructional changes intended to increase targeted intervention and literacy instruction.
The update: Mr. Gabriel (high-school staff member) said the district has shifted from its previous scheduling platform to Connect through the ESC of Northeast Ohio. Counselors held one-on-one scheduling meetings with students in grades 8–11 and staff are now consolidating student requests to build sections. Gabriel said the platform change, paired with a move toward some modified-block scheduling, expanded the time the team needed for conflict resolution. He said administrators plan to load courses, run conflict-resolution simulations, and “do our best to balance these conflicts” before releasing schedules in the coming weeks.
No New Instruction (NNI). Gabriel described NNI as a planned portion of certain class periods when teachers introduce no new content but provide targeted interventions, reteaching, enrichment or makeup work. In modified-block periods NNI might be roughly 15–20 minutes; in longer traditional blocks Gabriel estimated 25–30 minutes. He said NNI is intended for planned, data-driven interventions across all students in a class, enrichment for high-performing students and uses of platforms such as IXL for individualized practice.
Instructional supports and metrics. The principal emphasized use of baseline screening and digital tools (IXL) to prescribe individualized interventions, and said district leaders will review lesson design, differentiation, depth of knowledge and transitions in longer blocks. Gabriel said administrators will refine a walkthrough process to look for posted lesson goals, collaborative tasks and evidence of literacy practices aligned to the district’s science-of-reading work.
Other school operations items. Gabriel described orientation plans for incoming seventh graders, expanded student-leader roles in transition activities, mental-health awareness weeks, the senior project rollout, and the district’s attention to the state’s college-career-workforce-military readiness measures that will factor into the upcoming report card.
How the board will follow up. Administrators said they will continue conflict-resolution work and hoped to release schedules soon, while clarifying that the release date could not be guaranteed. Board members asked clarifying questions about whether NNI language and expectations are aligned across buildings; Gabriel said the district is working toward consistent implementation between grade bands.
Ending: The presentation walked the board through instructional goals and operational steps tied to the schedule change. Administrators asked trustees to expect further updates as schedule conflicts are resolved and as the district refines NNI expectations across the K–12 program.
