Students at Tahlequah High School, and their parents, may be pleased to learn the honors science curricula for the 2008-’09 school year won’t be dramatically scaled back, as some have feared.

The Daily Press has received several complaints that cutbacks had been planned for the program, and that among those on the chopping block was the popular forensic chemistry class. Several parents understood honors classes were being specifically targeted by the administration.

Tahlequah I-35 School Superintendent Paul Hurst indicated one THS science teacher is retiring, but the curricula will continue intact – for the most part,

“I’m having [THS Principal] Dr. Nick Migliorino look at some consolidation,” said Hurst. “We’ve lost one section of astronomy and one section of geology, as it stands now. The other offerings are pretty wide in range.”

At this point, elective offerings for the 2008-’09 year include: Honors chemistry A and B, honors organic chemistry, forensics 1 and 2, AP anatomy, AP physiology, an additional section of honors chemistry A, chemistry, physics, higher invertebrate zoology, lower invertebrate zoology, vertebrate zoology, meteorology and astronomy.

“For a school our size, that is a very, very aggressive elective offering,” Hurst said.

As many are already aware, budgeting woes plague not only Tahlequah schools, but districts across the state. Hurst indicated operating costs were a factor when determining electives.

“We are trying to reduce full-time teaching staff by four or five positions this year,” he said. “We are facing a stand-still budget, and we’ve had no new operating costs increase in over a decade. It’s all about economics and legislative action.”

Hurst said he visited with peers in the Tulsa Public School system this week, and they are looking at reducing full-time teaching staff by 200 to 300.

“I’m looking at four, without affecting services that much,” he said. “It’s a necessary action when 86 percent of your budget is tied up in salaries. We have to do something, which is the impetus for looking at consolidation.”

While budget is a consideration, Hurst said nothing is written in stone just yet.

“If we have to bring in a half-time teacher to accommodate demand for science classes, we will,” he said. “Science is just one area that may be affected. Our intent is to be everything to everybody, but the cold, hard facts are, we can’t – at least not until the state Legislature takes on the school budgeting crisis.”

Migliorino confirmed Hurst’s statements, saying he’s been working with the science department teachers to best serve the students – but a commitment from the students to persevere is key.

“We’re absolutely going to offer many, if not all, of the honors science classes next year,” said Migliorino. “It takes a solid 12 students to make a class. The problem we’ve had in the past is that we may have 12 enrolled, then half drop out and change classes mid-semester. This year, we’re requiring students enrolling in these classes to sign a form saying they will stay in the class, period. They can take something different at the end of the semester. Right now, I’ve got a couple of science classes with only five students in them, and that’s a waste of resources.”

Migliorino said he’s had inquiries from parents about the science program, and is curious about where they’d been getting their information.