EASTGATE — West Clermont School Board members approved five more small high school concepts Monday, but continued to press administrators to quickly come up with the answers to parents' questions.

        Ten small school concepts have now been approved for the high school restructuring, which takes effect in August 2002. Each small school carries the core requirements, but also focuses on topics of high interest for students.

        The restructuring is intended to improve student achievement, attendance, graduation rates and allow each student to be well known by at least one adult in the school.

        West Clermont's effort to retool high school education was bolstered by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, which awarded the district $796,000 last year. West Clermont and Cincinnati Public Schools, which also received Gates money, share $250,000 from the KnowledgeWorks Foundation to foster community involvement.

        While excited about the restructuring, board member Jeff Burgess said parents need answers to their questions so they can begin to see the benefits of restructuring.

        “We've got to get past the "Phil Donahue' issues so people get to the meat and see what the value is going to be for the kids,” he said.

        Superintendent Michael Ward will next bring to the board two policy issues:

        • Trimester scheduling.

        • Starting and dismissal times, which will determine how the school day is organized.

        Deciding on those issues are key to answering parents' questions, he said.

        But board member John Gray said, “In all the questions I've heard, nobody is saying, "Are we going to have a trimester?' It's, "Where are the programs going to be located?' "How are you going to do band and chorus?' "How are you going to do (advanced placement) honors?' I think those are topics that need to be put on the front burner.”

        Dr. Ward responded that the school can't provide written descriptions of each school and its courses until parameters, such as trimester scheduling and school times, have been drawn.

        The five high school concepts approved Monday are:

        • Creative arts and design.
        • Business and technology.
        • Communications and technology.
        • Human kinetics and wellness.
        • International baccalaureate.

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