Spero on Block Scheduling, Resignation

Come September, Nyack high schoolers will have an overhauled class structure.

It's a change , and one principal Joe Spero calls a certain victory.

Block scheduling—which means fewer classes each day for longer periods of time—will go into effect for the 2012-2013 school year.

"I'm very happy the board approved it," Spero said. "It's exactly where the school needs to be."

Under the new structure, students' core classes will meet three out of four times on a four-day cycle; class periods will be 15 minutes longer than they are currently.

On the fifth day, or once a week, classes will return to the current nine period, 41 minute schedule. Overall, students will attend six out of their eight classes each day, and grades nine through 12 will all share a lunch period.

Spero originally championed a larger overhaul, which would have extended certain classes to 80 minutes, but ended up favoring a lesser transformation.

"The new structure is modeled after Suffern High School," Spero said, noting he and several teachers, administrators and students visited neighboring schools that currently run on block scheduling.

Nyack Schools also looked to New Jersey for inspiration, where superintendent James Montesano once worked; Montesano .

"It's a great victory for the teachers and, ultimately, the kids," Spero added. "People in the building have been working on this for over a decade."

Spero noted his resignation, effective June 30, hasn't affected his satisfaction to see block scheduling implemented.

"I'm just happy to have had the opportunity to be here," he said. Spero came to the district three years ago, and will be replaced by current principal Nicole Saieva on July 1.

"I wish the district, kids and families well," Spero said. "It's been overwhelming how much support I've received since announcing my resignation."

When the issue was brought up at a school board meeting earlier this month, . Several filed up to the microphone to address board members, urging them not to accept Spero's resignation.

"I don't know where we went wrong—how we can let a man who has given as much as Joe Spero has leave here?" said Dan Gottfried, a 35-year Nyack resident whose youngest son is currently a senior at the high school. "I'm in shock."

Board members did not comment on the details of the decision.

As for the future, Spero says he's looking forward to new challenges.