On Jan 27. the District 86 School Board met in the Central auditorium to discuss the possible adjustment of physical education exemptions, with a main focus on band students extended, year long exemption. The meeting ended with Central agreeing to adopt Hinsdale South’s policy on P.E. exemptions.
The final proposition was that Central take a look at Hinsdale South’s exemption policy. Currently, Central students involved with the Band Department get a full year of physical education removal. The release is used exclusively for physical education class or study hall. If the student wishes to take another elective course you need to participate in early bird P.E. in place of that exemption during the regular school day.
Hinsdale South’s exemption policy is different. Each student involved with the Band Department gets a full year of P.E. exemption but can use the release as a ticket to other courses. This means a student can be exempt and fill that place with an elective, not just a study hall.
The controversy between an athlete’s exemption and band members is that the band member gets a full year of physical education relief while an athlete only gets a season. Band members get a whole year of P.E. release because they are required to participate in extra band ensembles in addition to marching band. The argument is that marching band is very active during football season, but dies after football season in completed. This leads people to believe band members should return to P.E. after football season, just like an athlete would return to gym after the season is completed.
Ideas to adjust the exemption policy were put forth. An eleventh hour was suggested at the meeting; the eleventh hour acts like an extra period in the day to help students time manage their studies while still getting the state mandated physical activity requirement. Questions do arise about the eleventh hour, such as the cost to employ the advisor and the resources needed to host the period.
Another idea was proposed that band members do not get a full year long study hall but a shortened one during busy times of the year, like athletes. However, some board members disagreed with changing the exemption policy.
“Do not touch this [P.E. exemptions],” said Edward Corcoran, a member of the District 86 Board of Education. “It’s great; let’s try to make it better, not compromise it.”
Possibly taking away the exemptions and phasing in the eleventh hour or non-extended study halls could cause problems for current students.
“For me and most of the juniors, we’re upset with the possibility of removing the exemptions because we’ve planned our classes around having a free period. If our exemptions are removed, we’ll have to redo our schedules and we won’t have time for extra AP or elective classes that we were going to take before,” said Kerri Kenney, junior.
After considering all options the school board came to a conclusion.
“I am very happy about the ruling because South and Central should be the same. I make class decisions based on the study hall,” said Lauren Lee, sophomore.
During the upcoming 2017-2018 school year Central will be adopting South’s exemption policy. The school board will look into possible changes for the 2018-2019 incoming class.