Texas district plans to dump block schedule to save money

From The San Antonio Express-News: In an effort to cut costs, the North East Independent School District in San Antonio, Texas, will do away with its block scheduling in high schools, moving to a seven-period day next fall. The change comes after the board declared a state of fiscal emergency that gives Superintendent Richard Middleton the authority to lay off contract workers in an effort to keep the district solvent. School officials are seeking to save $42 million over the next three years, meaning a potential reduction of 150 positions.