Published: August 31, 2008 08:00 pm      

Big high schools just got bigger

TRAVERSE CITY -- Staff members this week are preparing to welcome students back to Traverse City's two main high schools, both of which expect to see student populations swell by at least 300.

The high schools will house freshmen for the first time in at least 50 years, and also will have new classes of sophomores.

Both West and Central will be big: West will have more than 1,800 students when school begins, and Central Principal Jim Leyndyke's estimate of more than 1,600 enrolled exceeds the district's March projections.

Freshmen were moved to the high schools so they could benefit from more curriculum opportunities to prepare for Michigan's stricter graduation requirements, Associate Superintendent Jayne Mohr said.

But, she said, the district hasn't forgotten the importance of small school settings.

"The extent to which a student feels connected to both other students and adults in the school reduces the size," Mohr said. "Both high schools are looking at more academy-type learning opportunities."

Other changes are afoot, many to compensate for the growing student population.

Among them:

n Only freshmen and sophomores will be assigned lockers at West Senior High. With about 1,800 lockers and March enrollment projections of 1,865 students, the decision is due in part to space constraints and a historical lack of use among upperclassmen, Principal Joe Tibaldi said. Juniors and seniors can receive lockers upon request.

n Lunch schedules, so far, are holding steady at both schools. Central doesn't plan to veer from its traditional two lunch periods, Leyndyke said, since the school also has an open campus. West planned for three, 40-minute lunch hours as in the past, but staff are discussing adding a fourth, at 30 minutes apiece.

A teacher proposed offering staff more planning time during the day to compensate, since they are contractually allowed 40 minutes for lunch, Tibaldi said. If staff agree, it would need to be negotiated with the Traverse City Education Association.

n More tables and chairs have been added in each school's cafeteria to accommodate the influx of students. And students at both West and Central will find new science labs and classrooms when they return Tuesday.