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Altoona School District tries pilot program

Posted: 3:48 PM Jul 31, 2012
Reporter: Courtney Everett

Altoona School District tries pilot program (7/31/12)

(WEAU) - A pilot program is now being put into effect for the fall at Pederson Elementary, meaning its the first year of the program.

Science will no longer be taught every day. It will now be taught as a "Special's" class, which is similar to Music, Art and Physical Education at Altoona.

The change stems from Language Arts being put back into the everyday rotation of subjects.

Superintendent Connie Biedron says students 1st-4th grade will learn 70 minutes of Science every four days.

But, she says that won't be the maximum amount of time spent on Science.

"A lot of experiments they do during that 70 minute period of time will be carried over and integrated back into the classroom," said Connie Biedron, Altoona School District Superintendent.

The superintendent says the "Specials" class will be experiment focused.

"Sometimes that's hard to fit into the day. This way with the specials doing it, they can get everything setup," said Biedron.

But parents Ellen Harris and Rhonda Langais say they each have a child at Pederson Elementary and have concerns.

"From the parent's perspective, I can help my kids with writing and with reading. I'm going to have a harder time at home doing Science with my kids," said Ellen Harris, concerned parent.

"The more you’re involved in classes twenty minute spurts you tend to learn better than just one spurt," said Rhonda Langlais, concerned parent.

The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction recommends about 100-150 minutes a week be dedicated to Science.

Biedron says the program could still meet those recommendations, due to Science being integrated into other subjects.

"They'll do that planting in their 70 minutes of Science, then they'll take that back to the classroom and then they can monitor it and measure it in Math, and write about it in their writing class," said Biedron.

But parents say 70 minutes is too long for young students to pay attention.

“I have volunteered for "Specials" classes before and it’s been about 35 minutes in a class and its hard with even 35 minutes dedicated to one class,” said Langlais.

Biedron also says letters will be mailed to parents this week and there is an open forum online.

"Writing has been really ramped up so we wanted to give the classroom teacher more time to devote to writing," said Biedron.

Altoona is the only district locally to try the pilot program.

Eau Claire and Chippewa Falls School Districts say they both teach Science as a core subject almost every day.

Biedron also says if a child is sick on the day of Science class, then the student go to the "Special's" course with a different class.