There is a new change coming to St. Cloud High School for the 2022-2023 school year, the bell schedule.

This new schedule includes a shorter 45-minute lunch and a 30-minute class in between third and fourth period, called Flextime. At the start of every month, students will be assigned a teacher to go to for Flextime, and after 4 weeks, they will rotate.  

“Flextime will essentially run in windows of time and before that window of time opens, administration will schedule students into specific PAWS groups when students need specific help,” says assistant principal, Mr. Shane Muller. “Teachers will also get the choice to ask students to come in just like we did this year. And then finally students will get the choice to schedule themselves into certain groups.”

After hearing this news, students and teachers had many different opinions on how it will affect their school activities.

Coach Brian Smart, who is the new athletic director for the 2022-2023 school year, thinks that adding Flextime in between third and fourth period will help improve students’ grades.  “Change isn’t always easy, it’s not easy for anybody, but I’m really looking forward to it,” Coach Smart said.

Many teachers and staff agrees with Coach Smart about the new schedule and how it could improve academic success, but others don’t think it will be a beneficial use of their time.  

Junior, Ally E., a varsity level athlete who is involved with clubs, believes that the new schedule would not be fair for students like her who “already put in so much work at the school and even after hours for practices and clubs that we shouldn’t give more of our time for our PAWS if we don’t need it.”  

Students aren’t the only ones who disapprove of this schedule. The band director, Mrs. Mindy Curtis, doesn’t think there is enough time for teaching.  During the classes with her band students, Mrs. Curtis exclaims, “we will warm up for 15 minutes before we even start playing any of our literature.”  

Although students and teachers all have different opinions on it, this new schedule is to benefit the students and help lead them to academic success.

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