Next Wednesday FHS department chairs meet with Principal Cathy McDevitt to discuss changing the schedule for next year. Two different schedules will be discussed. The first option will change the length of the block classes and leave the remainder of the schedule the same.
The second option, more dramatic, will move early bird to 8 a.m. and end the school day at 3:30 p.m., making it easier for students to take seven classes.
Assistant principal Gene Boyle feels that with the second option more students will take seven classes.
"I feel about half of the students will be taking seven periods, about one fourth will not be here until nine and the other fourth will leave at 2:30," said Boyle. "Then there are the students who might work at McDonald's and be here for first, second, third, fourth and take the option of leaving after fourth."
"I think it addresses student needs so students can take full advantage of all the options we have, especially electives," said English department chair Sue Brown. "It puts the blocks on the same time-frame. It's going to solve some problems and make scheduling easier."
The majority of the staff agrees that the new schedule would work to benefit everyone.
However, a few staff members do not care for the change.
"I think the time frame we have now is perfectly adequate," said math department chair Larry Kaber. "We are turning out perfectly good college prep. and non-college prep. students right now.
"I like the schedule now, which would probably mean there is no need to change"
According to a summary proposed by the administration, the schedule would make it easier for bus students to take seven classes a day and if FHS was to institute the International Baccalaureate (IB) program the scheduling would be much simpler.
"If we look at the IB program seriously the second proposed schedule would best accommodate students," said Brown. "(It) would meet the concerns that I know active students would have . drama, journalism and the IB program could be accomplished in a seven-period day."