To the parents and students of the RE-1 school district:
I would like to offer my personal apology to each parent, student and member of our school community for the problems created by our student scheduling process that has resulted in delays and unexpected changes affecting both students and course offerings here at M-CHS. This was certainly not what I envisioned as my staff worked to introduce changes last spring intended to help our students be more successful. At my direction, we initiated a shift in how we are able to impact student learning by changing over from the 4x4 semester block schedule that has been in place for many years to a fluid block schedule in which freshman and sophomores will now receive year-long math and language arts instruction. Our CSAP performance over the past dozen years has consistently demonstrated that a fundamental change in how we do business is needed because what weve been doing is not what is best for our students.
Consequently, through the process of creating a workable 2011 master schedule we encountered problems involving our spring registration process, software issues pertaining to Power School (RE-1s student information system) and in offering more courses than could be staffed; all of which combined to create an unacceptable delay in providing all of our students, both current and new, with their schedules for this year in a timely fashion. For that I am truly sorry.
Following on the heels of these problems our district received a reduced school finance budget from the state resulting in a reduction of our teaching staff which, in turn, further reduced the number and variety of courses that we could offer our students. Plainly said, M-CHS can no longer offer the many elective options that were once available in years past for the simple reason that we dont have enough teachers to staff them all.
The bottom line is that I want to assure all of our parents and students that this scheduling situation will not happen again. We are addressing the root causes leading to this situation and will have each one resolved before school lets out next May. We want the absolute best for our students and our community and we, as a staff, are committed to providing our students with a top notch high school of which our community may be proud.
Sincerely,
Gordon Shepherd
Principal
Montezuma-Cortez High School
