Troy to consider 6/7 period change

Troy High School is considering moving away from its block scheduling to a six, six-and-a-half or seven period schedule.

The Troy School Board will vote on the proposed change at the monthly school board meeting at the Troy District building 7 p.m. Monday, Jan. 14.

The current block schedule works by allowing students to take four courses, five days a week in one semester, then switching the classes before the next semester. The six/seven period schedule would change that by allowing Troy’s students to maintain their classes all year.

Troy High School’s Principal, Jacob Francom, said the proposed move was primarily a result of declining enrollment and the government funds that have been taken away from the district.

Troy Counselor Kelly Palmer said the numbers paint a stark picture.

In 2000, the high school had 232 students. More than a decade later that number has dropped to 138.

“That’s a loss of near $450,000 from the operational budget,” Palmer said. 

Troy last had a six/seven period schedule in 1999 before switching to allow Troy’s students to take more classes.

Libby School District’s last successful mill levy, in 2002, was to keep the block schedule. The schedule was changed the next year anyway.