Belen
Belen High School administrators are working on a schedule that would allow some students to focus more on core areas to help them build essential academic skills.

Administrators are considering changing the freshman schedule from a block schedule to a six or seven period day to ensure students get instruction in core areas such as math, English and science every day.
The current schedule gives students instruction time in a single class every other day. The change would not affect any other grade levels.
The potential schedule change was brought up to meet state requirements, and because some ninth grade students tested at fifth and sixth grade levels on standardized tests for the last two years, according to Jim Danner, the school’s principal.
Danner said if passed, a change would limit electives students could take for their freshman year, and potentially eliminate electives such as band all together for students in their first year of high school.
Instead, the schedule would allow students to take one elective in fine arts or career technical education every six weeks.
The change would not take effect until next school year pending board approval, and could also involve the negotiated agreement between the district and its teachers.
The proposal is expected to be brought in front of the Belen Board of Education within the next month.
Danner said the change would have to be implemented with the current staff since the district has already suffered a $1.26 million cut for the 2009-10 fiscal year.      
“We have identified three needs ― math, math and math,” Danner said. “We are going to try and develop a schedule that will allow us to emphasize that, but not lose other stuff that we have.”
Danner said the change would include a math lab, an extra period where students would get additional time to go over curriculum that they may have questions on or don’t understand.
In August, Belen Schools were among about 70 percent of the state’s 820 schools that failed to make Adequate Yearly Progress, a federal mandate which sets proficiency goals for schools. 
Superintendent Patricia Rael said she is in favor of looking at different alternatives for students.
“(The change) is only in talking stages,” Rael said. “The board would have to approve the recommendation.
“The data we have been looking at shows that kids aren’t ready. I think it’s a good idea to try something new,” she said. “I think we need to look at interventions different. Our data doesn’t look good. It’s time to make a change, we can’t do worse. We’re got to make a difference in these kids’ lives.”
Board president Jamie Goldberg agrees.
“They are looking at multiple options to see what works out the best,” Goldberg said. “We don’t know if a change is going to be made. It’s not set in stone. They are floating a lot of ideas out there that need to be looked at.”
Parent Claudia Gale said her daughter, Dorothy, will be a freshman at the school next year. She said she planned for her daughter to take Algebra I, but isn’t sure she needs the lab.
“I think it’s good for those who need it,” Gale said. “It’s a good thing. I don’t know that every student needs (the lab). I guess we’ll wait and see what they come up with.” 
Danner, who doesn’t plan to return as principal after this year, said now is the time to implement a change.
“We are at a point in our schools where we are going to lose four or five groups of young men and women,” Danner said. “They are going to go through our schools without having the tools to find a job when they graduate. Our community needs it.”