Seventy Barrington High School seniors will participate in a new flexible learning program during the next academic year, which starts next month, according to Barrington High School District 220 officials.
The program is the district’s strategic step into personalized learning with flexible schedules for the BHS class of 2024, including in-school senior seminars and out-of-school internships. BHS administrators provided a program update to the school board at its June 20 meeting.
More Top Picks Best Hand Massagers For Neuropathy
“We’re really focused on maintaining a high level of rigor,” said BHS Principal Steve McWilliams. “We’re not sacrificing rigor for time, we’re looking at time differently.”
With a focus on not only academic but personal success skills, the flexible schedule option is structured to accommodate students for internships and career pathway programs. For example, students participating in the teaching/education pathway may need to be off campus for half a day more than once a week in order to engage in classroom observations at other schools. The same may be true for students participating in the certified nursing assistant program looking to begin acquiring clinical hours during the school day.
“This will allow us some opportunities during the school day to get our students out there to see different things that are happening during the weekday work session,” said Superintendent Craig Winkelman. “It’s a real benefit for us.”
Officials explained that students will be grouped in cohorts, allowing them to meet their graduation requirements but also make time for independent learning. Five to six teachers have been selected to teach specific content areas, with the instructors chosen from among the 50 who volunteered to participate in the program.
According to administrators, teachers with multiple certifications such as biology, chemistry, physics and environmental science, were selected so the high school would be efficient in its staffing. These teachers are receiving professional training this summer while developing interdisciplinary seminars and designing instruction based on learner profiles from student transcripts and interests, graduation requirements as well as IEP and 504 plans.
“It’s new, it’s different, once we start to get some visuality, and students start talking to their friends, we’re going to have more interest second semester,” McWilliams said.
Students interested in the program made a one-semester commitment. Teachers recommended students, and a district team reached out to target groups such as advanced placement students, among others, officials explained.
SD220 officials said district surveys determined students wanted more time to “learn by doing,” particularly in internship programs. The top choices selected by students for senior seminar topics include arts and communication, finance and business, health science, human services and public services. The main interests for internships ranged from medical to computer science, law firms and education.
Of the students surveyed, 87% reported they plan to attend a college or university after graduation from high school, according to Matt Fuller, associate superintendent for technology and innovation.
A designated learning space for the program is being created at the high school. A bank of lockers have been removed and the space is being renovated, including the addition of repurposed furniture from the school’s common area. There will also be an outdoor study space for students, McWilliams said.
Next steps for the program include analyzing graduation requirements for all participating students, working closely with parents of students in the program, providing professional learning and development for staff, final renovation of the learning space and a family orientation night in August. Students participating in the program have been tasked with creating a formal program name, McWilliams said.
The administrative team leading the program — along with some participating students — will present an update on it in the fall, according to district officials.
Also at the school board meeting, Jessica Buchanan was approved to be the next assistant principal of curriculum and student services at Barrington Middle School- Station campus.
“I started at Station as a student teacher fresh out of college, in special education, and I’ve been there ever since and I love working there. I feel so thankful and fortunate to be in that building and support it in any way,” Buchanan told the board.
The board also approved an intergovernmental agreement with the village of Barrington for a fuel purchase agreement. Winkelman said the agreement will allow the district to share the costs of fuel rather than service and maintain its own facility.
“This is a great example of an intergovernmental partnership and a way to preserve great services for our community,” said David Bein, assistant superintendent for business services.
Elizabeth Owens-Schiele is a freelancer.