New High School Schedule With More – But Shorter – Lunch Periods Under Discussion

A proposed Franklin High School schedule change for the 2014-15 school year would create more, shorter periods and would cut the amount of time for lunch periods for the second consecutive year.

The proposed schedule was shared with high school staff in a June 2 meeting. In general, the schedule calls for eight periods, the first and 8th being 47 minutes in length, with the remainder being 44 minutes, and 5-minute “pass times” for students to get from class class.

(To see the proposed schedule, click here.)

Specifically, the proposed schedule is actually comprised of four different schedules, labelled “A,” “B,” “C” and “D.” Schedules “A” and “B” would be mainly for freshmen and sophomores, while schedules “C” and “D” would be mainly for juniors and seniors, according to the information provided to staff.

The main differences among the options is when the four, 23-minute lunch periods are scheduled.

Under the so-called “early lunch” proposal, “A” schedule lunches would begin at 9:57 a.m., “B” schedule lunches at 10:46 a.m., “C” schedule lunches at 11:35 a.m. and “D” schedule lunches at 12:24 p.m.

Under the “later lunches” proposal, “A” schedule lunches would begin at 10:46 a.m., “B” schedule lunches at 11:35 a.m., “C” schedule lunches at 12:24 p.m. and “D” schedule lunches at 1:13 p.m.

Currently, there are six so-called “drop periods,” the first of which is 64 minutes long and the last of which is 62 minutes in length (including time for announcements), with the 2nd, 3rd and 5th being 59 minutes long. The 4th period is 38 minutes long, and includes the staggered lunch periods of 30 minutes each. Students have four minutes to get between classes.

The Board of Education during the school year was peppered with complaints about the “drop schedule,” especially the lunch periods. Students complained that the lines were so long, they sometimes could not get their food before it was time to go to the next class.

District spokeswoman Mary Clark said the school board is expected to discuss the proposed schedule change at its June 19 workshop meeting, and vote on it at the June 26 regular meeting.

What do you think? Does the proposed schedule sound like a good way to relieve overcrowded lunch periods? Let us know in the comments.

 

 

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