Lake County high schools to add 3 periods, eliminate 60 positions

LAKE COUNTY, Fla. — Channel 9 has learned the Lake County School District plans to change the class schedule for its high schools, moving from four periods per day to seven.  The teachers union has issues with the change.

"They're doubling the number of classes they're teaching per day, yet cutting their planning periods in half," said Stuart Klatte of the Lake County Education Association.

Administrators said the change improves education by keeping students in the same classes all year long instead of half the year, the way it is now.

Administrators also said teachers will be teaching more students, which will allow them to eliminate 60 teaching positions and save $4 million.

With the number of teachers who retire and move around, district spokesman Chris Patton said it's likely no one will have to be let go.

"We have many retiring, people leaving, people transferring every year," said Patton. "So, 60 isn't that many to be able to absorb."

But Tavares High School students who talked with Channel 9 said they aren't happy with the increase in periods.

"When I had seven periods I had a lot of homework, and it was really hard to get it all done by the next day," said student Alley Pettus. "It's going to be a lot harder."

Most high schools in the state operate under a seven-period class schedule.

WFTV