NCSD moving to common high school schedule for 2022-2023 school year; could help improve utilization of Pathways Innovation Center

CASPER, Wyo. — High schools in the Natrona County School District will be moving to a common schedule starting in fall 2022, according to a letter from NCSD Superintendent Mike Jennings that was shared with parents of 8th-11th grade students and staff of affected schools.

Kelly Walsh, Natrona County and Roosevelt High School, along with the Pathways Innovation Center campus, will be on the same “Hybrid Block Schedule” during the 2022-2023 school year, according to the letter.

“The Hybrid Block Schedule will consist of semester immersion classes and alternate block classes (examples of alternating block schedule classes are advanced placement, international baccalaureate, several fine and performing arts classes, and some JROTC),” Jennings said in the letter.

The move to adopt a common schedule comes at the direction of the NCSD Board of Trustees. Jennings explained in the letter that the trustees provided this direction in March 2021.

The district sees several advantages to moving high schools and the Pathways campus to a common schedule. Jennings summarized the efficiencies that will be gained by moving to a common high school schedule as follows:

1. Maximize student access and opportunity to take a variety of courses and programs;

2. Utilization of staff with specialty certifications or areas that are hard to fill;

3. Create efficiencies for programs or course offerings in specialty areas (advanced dual language immersion foreign languages, nursing, welding, science courses, etc.); 

4. Address space and capacity challenges (instructional space, parking, etc.); and

5. Reduce barriers that impede the utilization of the Pathways Innovation Center.

Letter from NCSD Superintendent Mike Jennings

“The high school principals and their staff will be working to build master schedules for next school year,” Jennings added. “The move to a common schedule will not impact or change your student’s graduation plan or course credit requirements. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact your child’s school administration.”

Oil City has spoken with district officials who communicated that one reason for the move to the common schedule is to better utilize Pathways Innovation Center. High schools operating on different schedules may be limiting the efficiency of enrolling students in classes at Pathways. A reporter has also spoken with individuals involved in industry in the area who hope to see Pathways better utilized to help ensure there is a training path that will help fill vacancies in various industries that are struggling to replace aging work forces.

Oil City will explore further details in regard to those conversations in a future article.