Marblehead school proposal gets lukewarm reception

MARBLEHEAD – School Committee member Jonathan Lederman said Tuesday his graduation requirement change was meant to add flexibility to student schedules and allow them to take more elective courses.An audience of about 70 teachers, parents and students crowded into the Marblehead High library Tuesday afternoon for a School Committee “working session” on Lederman?s proposal and expressed satisfaction with the present schedule and graduation requirements, however, teachers in the audience asked to see data supporting Lederman?s assertions.Lederman?s policy revision, submitted to the School Committee Thursday, eliminates a year of technology, two years of fine or practical arts and four years of wellness from the requirement list, and allows students to substitute after-school sports or “alternative physical education” for physical education.Lederman told parents that requiring students to take gym creates “inflexibility” in their schedules, prevents some from taking electives they want to take and forces them into study halls instead.He acknowledged the remarks of students who spoke in favor of the present schedule, but said, “Someone has to be the voice for the students who aren?t here, who aren?t getting the courses they want.”Marblehead High Principal Kenneth Weinstein praised the efforts of the Guidance Department in resolving those issues. “You will always hear anecdotal evidence about students who couldn?t get the class they wanted this semester,” he said, “but I don?t think you?ll hear them say they couldn?t get the class they wanted for three years.”Patrice Clough, lead teacher in the English Department, said she had numerous electives that go begging for students every semester and asked Lederman for data that support his proposals.Referring to the word “flexibility,” which Lederman used several times, she asked, “Where are we not flexible? Which (students) are not getting courses they want?”Committee member Kathy Leonardson said she would not support Lederman?s changes because he didn?t submit data supporting them and Patricia Blackmer suggested that he submit his proposals to the high school?s site-based management team for their study.Committee members asked Weinstein to return to their April 7 meeting with answers to the questions Lederman?s changes had raised.