Last year Triton High School had a 57 minute block for each class. But this year the school has decided to change fourth period to 72 minutes and changed fifth period to 44 minutes.

This came about because Central Office wanted the Middle School and High School to be on the same schedule.  A committee with members from the Middle School and High School came together to find a solution.

When Meghan Ober, a guidance counselor at the high school, was asked if this was because of budget cuts, she said, “I think it’s more to be forward thinking…  I think there will be a population drop overall coming down the line. There will be less students eventually, and so it would be really wise to have the same schedule for the building so if we ever needed to share staff we could.”  Ms. Ober pointed out some of the advantages to this schedule. Middle schoolers would be able to take High School classes if they were advanced. Every once in awhile teachers get a longer block to teach. Another pro is that both parts of the  the building can be on the same bell system.

Mrs. Kim Spinale, an English teacher, likes having a longer class period.  “It’s a good way for me to try to break it up and do different things. I can do the reading in one half and the writing in the other half.  I try to give the kids the time so they can use it in their best interests in their projects and getting caught up on reading. It’s a benefit, I think,”

Students may have a different opinion on these changes. Alyshia Eaton stated, “I just don’t like how long it is.  You could have a study and you could have nothing to do for 72 minutes. When it’s in a class I don’t like, it feels like forever.  I start packing up 15 minutes early because I forget that its 15 minutes longer. I don’t like how they changed it my senior year.”