Masuk Free Press

Many have heard the rumors that change is coming to Masuk High School. Yes, people, we have been told that this is happening. This article is here to dispel any lies, myths and misinformation that students may have seen or heard in the last few months, and to give answers to any burning questions people may have. 

*Please note that these full changes have not yet been 100% confirmed. 

First, let us talk about why these changes are happening. According to Masuk Principal Steven Swensen, there is more than one reason for the adjustments to our week: starting with the teachers communicating with the administration about their displeasure with the block schedule, to just the general amount of instruction we receive. 

“One of the primary motivating factors is the schedule previous to the block schedule had classes meeting 173 of the 182 days, so that’s a pretty high percentage right?” Swensen said.

“The new schedule has full-year classes only meeting about 86 times a year.” 

He believes that though it may work well for some subject areas, they are seeing dips in student performance in subjects that would benefit from more consistent instruction. Thus, they made it so that the new scheduling would allow students to see their teachers for up to about 130 to 135 days.

Now, let us look at the specific changes that are coming. We will continue to have a five-day school week—sorry about that. But we will also have to start our Mondays going to all eight periods. 

“Essentially what it’ll do for next year is two of those 5 days will be block, just like we have now, flex included 75-minute periods pretty much exactly what we have now in (terms of class time) and then the other three days we would see all 8 classes, but for a significantly less amount of time, about 40 to 40-something minutes,” said Swensen. There will also be no FLEX on the straight eight days. 

“As I understand it, there would be FLEX on the two block days, but there would not be FLEX on the straight eight days, cause you wouldn’t have enough time with eight periods to also then run a FLEX period it would be really difficult,” said Mr. Kobza, Superintendent of Monroe Public Schools.

Since we will see our teachers so often though, there will be less homework than is currently given. 

“There’ll need to be an adjustment in terms of the amount of homework that’s given on a regular basis, because right now, I think teachers make it maybe a little bit more because you’re not going to see them for another, you know, they don’t have class the next day. So I think you’ll see some adjustments there as well because you’re gonna have class the next day,” Swensen continued.

Now for the Aquaculture and RCA students. Here is how they will be affected;

“Obviously when we looked at the new schedule we included, you know, what it would do for those students. And obviously, the block days will be the same as it is now, and for the straight eight it actually benefits Aqua and RCA,” explained Swensen.

Mr. Swenson made it clear that there would be almost no impact on the RCA students because they do not leave until 1 o’clock.  Because there will now be more periods during the school day on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, students will probably miss a class, but that will  not be a change from what they do now.

Aqua will also now be able to stay in class longer on our straight eight than they currently do with our block scheduling. 

Many students already dislike the idea of this new schedule, though:
“I don’t like the idea of not having FLEX,” stated sophomore Jennifer Velky. 

“I feel like, FLEX like, that’s like my rock, that’s like how I get through like all my good classes because I’m in all honors, so I need that like FLEX for extra help and stuff.” 

The loss of FLEX might not be the worst thing in the world to some, but there’s also the matter of how messy the new schedule seems to be. 

“I just like what the schedule is now…and it’s not as confusing. I feel like the new schedule is going to be way too confusing for people..starting off the freshman year as well,” said Velky.

We will not know all the details until the new schedule is actually implemented, as Mr.Swenson asserted that they have not been confirmed, but are definitely coming.