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Davenport school board votes to keep block scheduling

Davenport’s school board decided not to change the district’s high school block scheduling for the upcoming school year.

Davenport's school board decided not to change the district's high school block scheduling.

The decision was a relief to some, but it means the board will have to find another place to make budget cuts.

It was good news for North High School student Anthony Desalvo.

"I've been arguing for a while now," said Desalvo.

Over the past few months the district has heard from parents and teachers pushing the district to keep its current schedule. Block scheduling is four classes per day, that are each 90 minutes long, where traditional scheduling is seven 50-minute periods.

"It's just better for our teachers to get interaction with the students. We get more time per day. It's a lot less stress on our students," said Desalvo.

Superintendent Dr. Art Tate recommended that the board keep block scheduling for the 2015-2016 school year and the board agreed in a vote Monday, November 24, 2014.

"There's much more information the board would really want to have," said school board president, Ralph Johanson.

Choosing to go traditional would have reportedly saved the district more than a million dollars, at a time when the district needs to find a way to cut $8 million from its budget.

Board members said it would be too much disruption for students.

"It is a big decision. It affects a lot of people," said Johanson.

The change may also have cut teachers' jobs, which appear to be safe for now.

This discussion isn't over; the board also voted to keep traditional scheduling as a budget-reduction option for the future.

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