With the implementation of the Washington State Board of Education’s “Core 24” graduation requirement due in place for the Class of 2019, Wenatchee High School is now on course to possibly change its schedule yet again. On the table are two options: change the schedule next year, or the year after. If a change is made next year for the newly implemented Core 24, it would be the third schedule change at WHS in three years — a virtually unheard of occurrence.

Opposition to another schedule change for next year is strong, especially from WHS Principal Bob Celebrezze. According to Celebrezze, for current sophomores, the Class of 2017, this wouldn’t be just the third schedule they have had. Having first moved from a middle school schedule to a six-period day, and then to this year’s block schedule, another schedule change would add to the already numerous changes the Class of 2017 have experienced.

“They (current sophomores) would have four schedule changes in four years,” said Celebrezze. “I say no. It’s (schedule changes for next year) not a good idea.”

Several students have also expressed their concern with the possible schedule change, and junior Jorge Alvarez is one of them. Although he says people usually don’t like change, Alvarez hopes that the possibility of a new schedule will be an improvement upon the current one, and will be well-researched to accommodate the upcoming Core 24 standards.

“I hope students are open to the possible change,” Alvarez said. “When they change (the schedule), they need to make sure they have all the statistics and data they can get to make a positive, informed decision.”

Celebrezze, who does not oppose Core 24, has concerns about what the new standards will mean for the students of WHS. The current schedule allows for 24 credits to be earned, which is the exact number of credits required by Core 24 for graduation. This means that students who do not pass all their classes — even with the two-credit waiver that may be granted to students with “unusual circumstances” — will not be able to graduate. As it is seemingly evident that the school will have to change its schedule to accommodate this fact, Celebrezze is looking into the possibilities.

“I have some ideas that could be a win-win,” Celebrezze said, adding that “seven-period days” and “trimesters” were on the table for discussion, as well as a possible re-modification of the current block schedule.

Core 24, which raises the current state graduation requirement from 20 credits to 24, not only increases the number of credits for graduation, but dictates where these credits are placed. Students at WHS, to meet both the school and state’s incoming standards, will have to take not only a half credit extra of science, but two of the three credits earned are required to be labs. In addition, students will have to earn one more credit in arts, and will be required, by the state, to take two years of a foreign language. The number of elective credits will be cut down from six and a half to four.

In substitution of a foreign language, though, a student may take a class that meets the “Personalized Pathway Requirement,” which according to the Washington State Board of Education, are “related courses that lead to a specific post high school career or educational outcome based on the student’s interests and High School and Beyond Plan.” It includes Career and Technical Education, and is “intended to provide focus for the student’s learning.”

Celebrezze said that with Core 24 and our current schedule, students will not be able to take as many electives or “dabble” in possible career paths.

“Let’s say a student has a strong aptitude for music, and they want to take it (music class),” Celebrezze said. “With Core 24 and our current credit requirements (for graduation), regular students wouldn’t have the opportunity to do that.”

Despite the complications arising with the implementation of Core 24, Celebrezze remains optimistic about the amount of discussion that is happening already within both WHS and the Wenatchee School District. He said that discussion has been led by himself “from the get-go” with the entire faculty, and that they have asked him to lead further discussions on the schedule changes with Core 24. Stating that he wants everyone to “form their own opinions,” Celebrezze reaffirmed that he still supports his opinion, in that there should be no change in the schedule next year.

“I don’t anticipate nor support a change [in schedule] next year,” said Celebrezze. “I don’t believe it’s in the interest of Wenatchee High School.”