The changes have frustrated some parents, who say they received incomplete schedules for their children and think their children's classes are not challenging enough.

"There's not much emphasis on curriculum or intellectual pursuits. It's pretty pathetic," says Margaret Hallisey, whose two ninth-grade sons are in Schools 2 and 5, respectively.

Several dozen parents repeated those themes at a hearing last Thursday night that committee members had scheduled to hear parents' concerns about the redesign.

Last night, committee members talked with Evans and the deans for two hours. Administrators acknowledged that they faced a scheduling nightmare when school opened this fall. Evans says some logistical problems have been fixed already. Scheduling has settled down, for example. And guidance counselors are getting ready to send out individual letters to parents of juniors and seniors about planning for their children's futures.

Last night, she said restructuring is a long-term process that requires the school committee's support. And, though they grilled administrators on issues of class size and academic challenge, committee members seemed willing to give Evans the support she wanted.

"We very much want you to be successful," said committee member Alfred B. Fantini. "Don't view us as adversarial in this relationship."

As problems are worked out, morale among veteran teachers has bottomed out.