Scitec students and parents warn proposed reconfiguration could strip block scheduling and programs

Several current Scitec students and a parent testified that Scitec's block schedule and concentration model are core to the school's identity and warned the Future Ready facilities plan could erode those features if reconfiguration proceeds without clear protections.

Tyler Allen, a Scitec student, described the 80-minute block schedule as "the backbone of Scitec's curriculum" and said expanding access is welcome but should not come at the cost of eliminating block periods. "I'm worried this may place learners in a situation where they do not best learn by not giving them an option to a more traditional school environment," Allen said, asking the board to ensure Scitec staff and students are fully consulted and that the block schedule is preserved where appropriate.

Fellow students echoed that concern and added requests for consistent faculty support for student groups. Jordan, a 10th grader, urged more faculty involvement with the Black Student Union. Josiah Charmers, a fifth-grade Scitec student, described the value of hands-on STEM learning and asked for broader access to technology offerings. Sebastian Bard, a graduating senior, urged the board to preserve Scitec's concentrations and cautioned against equating unique program offerings with inequitable access.

A Scitec parent, Emily Sawyer, told the board that schedule and staffing uncertainty could lead to teacher attrition and weaken instruction, using halftime social-studies positions as an example of how staffing changes can undermine curricular stability.

The testimony called for explicit guarantees that program models (block scheduling, concentrations, and student-organization support) will be assessed and protected during any reconfiguration; no district staff response is included in the hearing record.