By JULIA WILSON

ALAMOSA — Alamosa Board of Education voted four to two Tuesday night to change the structure of the school day in Alamosa High School.

For 13 years Alamosa High School students have studied under a modified block schedule, with students attending some classes on Tuesday and Thursday in one and a half hour blocks, and other classes on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

At the Feb. 16 Board of Education meeting, Superintendent Rob Alejo asked the board to approve the move to a seven period day schedule, with students attending each class five days a week.

“The reasons for this change are first to allow for the elimination of teaching positions without increasing class size, also we feel student achievement will be impacted by having students in each class every day,” according to the administration’s proposal to the board.

With a seven class period day, starting with the class off 2013 students will only be required to have 24 credits to graduate, as opposed to the 28 credits now required. For students graduating in 2011 the number of credits required will be 26, and for the class of 2012 the number will be 25 credits.

Board members Neil Hammer, District Three, and Keith Vance, District Two, voted against changing the class structure.

Delhia Mahaney, a parent of student(s) in the district, told the board they were moving to make the change without consulting the parents of the students who would be affected by the change.

“The last time the administration wanted to change to a seven period day there was a public forum and the parents were consulted,” Mahaney said. “I’m not seeing that here. What you are doing is irresponsible.”

Neil Hammer said he didn’t really know that much about either the block scheduling method or the seven period day schedule, but he did feel the parents should have a say in the matter.

“I appreciate parents who care about their kids,” Hammer said. “I am concerned that there has not been enough time for people to talk about this.”

Keith Vance was concerned that the board members did not have enough information to make the best decision for the students.

“Do we have concrete data?” Vance asked.

Vance cited a recent University of Minnesota study that seemed to promote a split schedule, some block classes and some daily classes.

“According to the study a daily period may be good for some subjects like math, but the block classes are best for some of the other classes.”

Vance countered the argument that teachers have problems with keeping students engaged during a class that lasts an hour and a half with the suggestion that teachers should be given additional training on teaching in blocks.

“We have already spent money on how to teach in blocks,” Vance said. “We may need changes in teaching methods. Training can take place to achieve that. I think that the block schedule can lead to excellence.”

Vance said changing the scheduling would cause disruption in the whole system at a time when it would be most beneficial to have a stable learning environment.

“In a time when we are having problems financially and have to make cuts, we don’t need to disrupt the students, faculty and administration.”

Vance said he felt students going to college would be better prepared if they came from a block class environment.

“I think block classes set kids up for success in college,” Vance said. “In college they won’t have classes every day,” he said. “They will have classes on Tuesday and Thursday, and on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.”

Vance read comments from two teachers on a teacher survey, both of whom were in favor of continuing with a block teaching format.

Board member Christine Haslett read the comments from one of the teachers in favor of the seven classes a day schedule.

Among the points the quoted teacher made was the advantages of reinforcing class material five days a week and that students would do better in shorter class periods because of their short attention spans.

None of the board members spoke out in the meeting about why they felt going to seven class periods a day was better than staying with the block scheduling, and the possibility of a split schedule, some daily classes with others in the block format, was not discussed.

Before the vote board president Bill Van Gieson spoke for board unity.

“I would like to say, which ever direction we go, we the board is willing to stand behind the decision to make whichever system we choose to work,” Van Gieson said.

The motion to change from the current block schedule to a straight seven class periods a day passed with Bill Van Gieson, Christine Haslett, Arlan Van Ry, and Melvin DeHerrera voting in favor of the proposal.

Vance Keith and Neil Hammer voted against the change.

The next board meeting will be held Tuesday, April 6 at 7 p.m.