NEW IBERIA — The Iberia Parish School Board is scheduled to discuss and vote on a proposal to eliminate block scheduling from the district's public schools and replace it with a seven-period schedule.
Last week during a board committee meeting, a number of parents, students, and teachers from across the parish expressed their anger at the proposal.
Superintendent Carey Laviolette supports the move to a seven-period school day.
"The data shows that students on a seven-period day outperform students on a block schedule, not only on the state tests but also on the ACT," Laviolette said after last week's meeting.
Teachers say students would have a difficult time keeping up if the district abandons the four-by-four block system.
"They fear with the seven-period schedule, they're going to be overwhelmed with homework, that they won't be able to participate in the activities," said Jerrod Breaux, a teacher at New Iberia Senior High School, at that meeting.
Tonight's meeting begins at 5:30 p.m. at the Iberia Parish School Board Office.
