Students and teachers are adapting to new changes in the school schedule. Changes include the school day beginning at 7:40 a.m. compared to 7:50 a.m. last year and having eight periods instead of nine.
“Administration surveyed teachers about what they felt could be better, and we came to the decision that best preserves the educational minutes of the day,” Dr. John Sherrill, high school principal, explained.
The school eliminated PrimeTime, which was the sixth period study time. Including the earlier start, this adds seven to eight minutes to each class.
“Administration wanted to maximize on instructional time in core classes,” Counselor Leslie Graham said. “This schedule was also the most balanced master schedule the school has had since I’ve been here.”
Last year PrimeTime was intended to be used for class meetings, makeup work, studying, some extracurricular activities and tutoring for students.
“We feel that PrimeTime wasn’t being utilized with its original intention by the majority of students, from my perspective,” Graham said. “I would see people in large groups just hanging out, but I wasn’t in the halls or upstairs during that period.”
Another change is that junior high and high school lunch is now approximately 20 minutes earlier; however, junior high’s fifth period is split in half by lunch.

Junior high teacher Mallory Mooney said that the split is perfect for her class.
“The first 20 minutes is a good amount of time to do notes, and then the last half of the class is the right amount of time for the assignment,” she said. “We don’t lose much time but the second half of class seems shorter.”
Junior high teacher Zac Dunnam said the split has both pros and cons.
“It’s good to keep the class from getting monotone,” he said. “I enjoy the quick break from teaching but for tests the split could cause issues.”
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could cause issues.”
The school also eliminated the snack depot break.
“Lunch is 20 minutes earlier to make up for this change, but there was too much trash last year that brought rodents,” Sherrill said.
Machtolff said he doesn’t agree with the loss of snack depot.
“I feel like administration has failed us for project graduation because the concession stand on Fridays won’t make up for the money the class makes from snack depot,” he said.

According to math teacher Rodney Wilson’s calculations, adding eight minutes to each class lengthens the time in each class by six weeks.
“The extra time in class can be used for students to work together or get help,” Wilson said. “We will have to sacrifice some of the activities we used PrimeTime for last year, but the benefit is more time in class for students to learn and master the TEKS.”
AP English teacher Carol Campbell said she liked the schedule changes.
“The 50 minute class periods make class feel less rushed” Campbell said. “The drawback is trying to find time for makeup work. We have to have PrimeTime just not every day.”
Campbell said she felt PrimeTime last year wasn’t productive.
“I couldn’t find people if I needed them, and I think the people who used the time productively were in the minority,” she said
Science teacher LeeAnne Warren said she enjoys the new schedule.
“The longer class periods allow me to follow up and use class work that requires more detail and isn’t rushed,” she said.
Warren said that this schedule does require more flexibility from teachers and students.
“Our focus is on academics, but I don’t know when kids will be able to do makeup work or get help if the extra eight minutes in class isn’t enough.” Warren said.
Senior John Machtolff said if he wasn’t a senior, he’d quit from all extracurricular activities because of the schedule changes.
“The earlier start time is very inconsiderate to the athletes that have early morning practice,” Machtolff said. “Without PrimeTime it is hard to find time to film in video tech, and it will be challenging to find time to get together for UIL computer science (the team placed fourth at state), but I will persevere for my last year.”
Schroeder said the longer classes could be useful.
“The extra minutes will probably help with preparation for exams, STAAR tests and the SATs,” she said.