The science department at Triton High School has had some changes through the years, and will have some new ones in the 2018-2019 school year. Mr. Ivan Ferron, the head of the science department, has answered some questions about past, and upcoming changes.

Q: As the head of the science department, can you tell me the about the evolution of the science department and how it has changed over the years.
A: Over the 12 years I’ve been teaching at Triton, our program has increased the number of AP courses. When I started, we only had AP Biology. We have since, added AP Physics and Chemistry, and it is likely we will be adding AP Environmental next year. Our electives are more serious than they had been as we work to better-prepare students for college. We are currently working to increase hands-on opportunities that would give students more control over designing and doing science experiments, as opposed to the traditional labs, which are sometimes more like recipe-based demonstrations.

Q:What are the things you want a Triton student to walk away from their high school science experience knowing?
A:I personally hope that students have a better appreciation for the sciences and scientific process as a result of their experiences in Triton science classes. Science can be intimidating to some. I hope that the great science teachers we have here at Triton are working to reduce some of that intimidation to make sciences more accessible, especially to students who may actually have a shot at a science careers.

Q: I have heard around the halls that forensics will not be an option for a class for the 2018-2019 school year, instead, it will be bio tech. Is this correct, if so can you explain why?
A:I teach both of those classes, along with Honors and CP Marine Biology. Both Forensics and Biotech had been semester classes, they are now full-year classes- so each is 50% new. It would be fool-hardy to attempt teaching both classes when there are kinks to work out of both, so I’m swapping Forensics for Biotech next year so that I’m not pulled in too many different directions. This will, hopefully, deliver a better product to the students.

Q: Do you have any worries about the budget cut next year? Do you think your department will be affected?
A:I have worries every year and assume the department will be impacted- and each year, somehow, the district pulls through and science is supported. We have new state standards that will require us to provide more hands-on opportunities with probes and other instruments we’ve started to procure. Most classes – freshman biology in particular – are coming due for new textbooks. For these additional needs, I have some concerns, not just for our department, but for the entire district. Most are probably feeling different versions of the same pinch. We have talented people at the top who are very invested in the success of Triton and its students, and that dedication replaces some of the worry with hope.