UPDATE 12-13-11:
After hearing concerns from parents, the district will not make a decision on the proposed schedule change until after the holiday break. More info about the schedule can be found on MISD’s blog.

UPDATE 12-1-11:
The district modified the eight-period schedule to an earlier start time (7:30) and shortented class time (45 minute classes). See the new proposed schedule here: [8 period day draft schedule]

11-28-11
In order to save money, the district proposed changing to an eight-period-day schedule at the start of the 2012-2013 school year. Switching from the current block schedule will save the district $4 million of the $13 million cut by Texas Legislature.

“Everybody heard about how the state cut funding for education,” Principal David Wright said. “The district has to be able to operate in a budget.”

Because teachers have one less conference period, for every seven teachers one can be redistributed to a different school in the district.

“With the opening of Lake Ridge, students are having to shift,” Mr. Wright said. “Students are moving to the new school, so teachers have to move to the new school also.”

The current block schedule allows a teacher to have class for six periods and have two periods for conference. Having the eight-period schedule allows teachers to teach an extra class and have one period for conference.

“I will have to pick up another class, but it will most likely be another history class. So I won’t be teaching anything new,” AP Coordinator Mandy Gent said.

According to Mr. Wright, over 85% of the money running through a district pays personnel salaries. Rather than hiring new teachers, the district saves money by shifting existing teachers to Lake Ridge.

“After a budget cut, either you cut the personnel or you rearrange the system,” Mr. Wright said.

Among other changes in the schedule, a proposition to change the start and end of the school day was also made. On the eight-period schedule draft, high school begins at 8:15 a.m. and ends at 4:15 p.m. The length of passing periods will shorten to five minutes. If the board approves the time changes, instructional time will extend by 40 minutes.

Though the budget affects the students’ time in class, it could affect the time they spend outside of school as well.

“I like the A/B day schedule we have this year because I like not having to do homework and papers the day I get them,” junior Connor Johns said.

Along with the amount of time spent on homework, the proposed schedule changes times and ways athletic teams and extracurricular groups practice during and after school.

“We won’t be able to practice our music as in-depth as we used to,” band sophomore Katrina Huynh said, “but it does allow us more flexibility to pick up other electives.”

Johns worries about the reduction of instruction time, as classes shorten to 45 minutes.

“Having shorter classes seems like things won’t be as personal,” Johns said. “Teachers will have to rush through things, and there won’t be time for any one-on-one explanation.”

As the alternative to the A/B day schedule, the eight class periods day will create many differences in a regular school day, not only for high school but for all other schools as well.

“The district has to put together a schedule which fits the high schools, Frontier, Ben Barber, middle schools, intermediate schools and elementary schools,” Mr. Wright said.