After two years of review and public involvement, Seattle School's Chief Academic Officer, Carla Santorno, has decided West Seattle High will revert back to a six-period schedule, but parents and students plan to ask the School Board and new superintendent to reverse the decision.

For more than two hours, Santorno and other district officials listened as people expressed frustration and resentment about the decision at a community forum last week at West Seattle High.

Santorno explained to a crowd of more than 100 that the current four-period schedule limits continuity in learning, especially for math. Some students are not able to take math and other core courses year round with the four-period day.

"This is an issue that has clearly divided our community and it's not an easy one to resolve," said Santorno. "Change is difficult, but from change can come opportunity."

Math continuity for ninth and 10th graders was a core factor in the decision, said Santorno, and a schedule developed by the staff that would have students completing three years of math in two years was "just too aggressive."

More than 400 students out of 1,600 failed a math class last year.

Analysis of Washington Assessment of Student Learning scores for the past five hears indicate the school's gains were comparable to the district's overall gains in reading and math. Half of the 10th-graders district-wide passed the state test, compared to 45 percent of West Seattle sophomores.

Before the meeting, junior Liam Reed handed out a petition already signed by hundreds of students that want to keep the four-period day. Reed said the current schedule has reduced his stress level at school, allowing him to retain math lessons easier. Longer periods helped him get to know his teachers and classmates better, he said.

"We want it to stay," Reed said. "The whole reason we go to West Seattle is for the four-period day."

Supporters of the four-period day say having four, 85-minute class periods, instead of six, 55-minute classes, allows more teacher-student personalization and better opportunity for in-depth learning in classes like science.

Critics don't like that there are fewer hours of instruction per credit than at schools with six periods. Classes are also about 8 percent larger with four periods, with an average class size of 35, while the six period average is 32.

Students can take eight classes in one year with a four-period system instead of six, but they spend about 23 percent less time in the classroom. Classes that are completed in a year at other high schools last an entire semester at West Seattle.

It's also the only one of 10 Seattle public high schools to use the schedule, which is another reason Santorno wants to change it. As the district moves toward a common curriculum, the four-period day requires too many modifications for staff, technology and scheduling, she said.

The school must also gain a waiver from the state Superintendent of Public Instruction ever year.

A steering committee comprised of staff and parents was formed last spring, but it couldn't reach a compromise after six months.

The school will start on a six-period schedule in 2008-09, but Santorno said it's possible it could be a modified version of the traditional schedule with some blocked classes.

Since the credit systems are different under the two schedules, junior students in particular said they are worried about being able to graduate on time.

Junior Kara Dunn said she was upset there was no advance warning to get her credits in line. She doesn't want to lose the sense of personalization that comes with the four-period day.

"There is a different way of learning here and it's working," she said.

A former West Seattle student Carlos Estrada is now attending the University of Washington and said he feels more prepared for college than his friends that attended other Seattle high schools.

"This schedule allowed me to thrive," he said.

Others were worried the school would have to get portables or cut teachers and students. Santorno said those were all "unknowns."

"There are different opportunities in a six period day that can allow for personalization..." she said. "I did not make this decision in a vacuum. We've done a lot of information seeking."

Santorno made it clear that she would not change her mind, and that only the superintendent could overturn the decision.

When asked how many students the school had capacity for under a six-period day, no one had answers, which further frustrated the crowd.

"These details needed to have been worked out before a decision was made," said Marysue Hildebrandt, whose children attended West Seattle High.

"Some things will change but we need to look more closely," said Brad Bernatek, interim manager of research, evaluation and assessment for the district. "There may be a slight enrollment drop but I can't give an exact number."

John Thorpe, a former school principal and central director of curriculum and instruction, has been hired to create a master schedule by Dec. 1 for next year. Santorno also promised individual planning with each student.

Though much of the school's staff has been decidedly for the current schedule, principal Bruce Bivins maintains that there is no "one size fits all model of schooling in high school."

"No matter what side of the aisle you are on, whether it's the four-period day or the six-period day, our student's all have needs," Bivins said. "The bottom line is, it's powerful instruction that leads to powerful learning."

Rebekah Schilperoort may be reached at 783.1244 or rebekahs@robinsonnews.com