Changing schedules is an annual activity for some students. But, due to changes this year, students now must justify their reasons for the switch in their schedule.
First, a form must be completed stating which course they wish to drop and which they would like to take in its place. Along with the form and justifications for the switch, a parent’s signature is required and occasionally, a meeting with your counselor. After the process is complete, the counselors will make contact to notify the student if the request has been approved or not. The deadline for schedule changes is Friday, Aug. 19 by the end of the school day.
The new administration-implemented initiative was primarily created to help course selection and scheduling occur smoother than before. Associate principal Jennifer Smith said that the need for the students to provide a reason for switching is to preserve a well-kept learning environment.
“[The administration and staff] wanted to emphasize that students should carefully select the classes they take,” Smith said. “When you have a significant number of schedule changes, it makes it difficult to maintain a balanced class size and positive learning environment.”
Although the initiative was taken to slow the number of applications to change schedules, Counselor Erin Hayes said that the changes in the system made the process more controllable, it didn’t necessarily slow down the number of applications.
“[The new system] makes it less frantic at times in the morning when it’s total chaos. It’s more structured,” Hayes said. “I’m not sure it’s slowing requests down, but it makes it a little more manageable.”
As the school saw an increase in students and the potential increases in the future, the district found it necessary to develop a model similar to that of other, larger schools. Sophomore Shelby Rayburn said the increase in the school population made the schedule changing process more difficult for students.
“[The increase in students] made it more complicated to change up your schedule,” Rayburn said. “More people have different [classes] they want to change and take, it’s just complicated [to switch].”
Senior Aaron Lee believes that, although the process changed slightly, it didn’t really affect the amount of time it takes to change a schedule.
“It takes just about the same amount of time as it did last year to me,” Lee said. “You get through the line pretty fast unless you have to meet with your counselor, then it takes a while.”
Though the process changed, Smith says it is a way to work for everyone.
“Before the switch, it was frustrating for students to wait and not get what they want,” Smith said. “But now, it’s a way to work for everyone. Success is the goal of it all.”
