A week after Austin High School teachers voted down a four-period day schedule, Principal Joe Brown proposed an eight-period day at the Faculty Curriculum Leadership Group meeting Monday.

The eight-period day would not require any changes to the teachers' contract and would keep class sizes at an average of 28, Brown said.

Brown asked the 11 leadership group members to take the proposal back to their departments.

"That is going to generate some discussion in the next couple of weeks," Brown said.

Next school year, up to 100 more students will be enrolled at AHS, Brown said. Because of this, class sizes could be as high as 38. With budget concerns, Brown said he will not be able to hire more than 78 teachers.

Under the eight-period day, teachers would teach six 50-minute periods and have two for preparation periods. Students would take seven classes and have the option to take as many as eight if they chose to do so.

Classes would begin at 7:30 a.m. and end at 3:30 p.m. Student athletes would be encouraged to take a study hall during the eighth period so they would not miss class if they needed to leave early for an athletic event, Brown said.

Some faculty members asked that there be a re-vote of the four period day, but Brown said he was not planning to hold one. With the eight-period day, Brown would have to hire more lunch and study hall staff.

The proposal will be discussed internally, first, Brown said. It would need to be approved by the school board before it's implemented.

On Jan. 28, AHS teachers voted 40-34 to reject a four-period day proposal. In a four period day, classes would be 90 minutes a piece. Year-long classes would instead last a semester.

The four period day also would have kept class sizes at their current average of 28 students, Brown said.

Bob Riege, president of the Austin Education Association, said, however, class sizes were not guaranteed to stay at 28. Some teachers also were worried that they would not be able to cover enough material with the four-period class schedule.

Cari Quam can be reached at 434-2235 or by e-mail at cari.quam@austindailyherald.com