In an open letter to the Mansfield ISD Community, Superintendent Dr. Jim Vaszauskas announced that in the 2016-17 school year, MISD high schools will return to the A/B block schedule. The change comes after four years of using the nine-period per day schedule. Dezirae Rodriguez, 10, appreciates the change to an A/B block schedule.
“I am excited to begin the A/B schedule due to the fact I have more time to actually learn the material,” Rodriguez said. “I don’t mind [the block schedule] because too much math one day means no math the next day.”
Dr. Vaszauskas wrote in his letter to Mansfield ISD that the new schedule’s mission is to prepare students better for college and beyond. The decision was made after ‘holding several focus group discussions, parent meetings, teacher meetings’ as well as various community surveys.
“After careful consideration of the information provided and with a clear focus on our mission to graduate college and career ready students,” Dr. Vaszauskas said in his letter to the community, “I believe the A/B block schedule best meets the needs of our high school students.”
The A/B block schedule works by alternating four classes a day. “A” days will have four classes and the following “B” day will include four different classes. Each class will be one hour and 30 minutes long, double the current length of classes during the 2015-16 school year. The plan hopes to better accommodate students taking Ben Barber, dual credit classes, AP classes and other extracurricular activities.
Athletic classes like soccer may meet every other day as a result of the block schedule. If a student is unable to “double block” their athletics they may not practice with the team every day like one would on the nine period schedule. Rodriguez feels like this result won’t affect the team much.
“It will be a little weird but the majority of the girls play soccer outside of high school as well,” Rodriguez said. “It also gives us more time in class so we don’t have to rush workouts.”
Campus administrators will be working with MISD administrators to continue planning the changes to the schedule. Several challenges are being considered including Ben Barber, House Bill Five, lunch times, school start and ending times and more. More details will be announced as they are decided.
