Imagine you get a break from your most stressful class at least once a week—that’s the idea behind a drop schedule. This rotating timetable skips one or more classes daily, creating longer periods and giving students time to relieve stress and complete assignments.

Students and teachers alike would get to experience their classes at different times of day. For example, instead of having a difficult history class each morning when students are at their most tired, a student might have history during the morning on one day, the afternoon on another, and so on. Teachers get to see their students at their most awake and at their least. Students who are chronically late or absent wouldn’t miss the same class everyday.

Seniors Lee Arroyo and Eman Almante supported the idea, saying it would mean less work and stress.

However, Assistant Superintendent Dr. Hassler expressed concerns: “If we dropped one period out of our schedule, that might be an elective that students are no longer going to have the ability to take. Since they could have other classes they are required to take—maybe they get reading support or something like that—that 9th period is their opportunity to be able to take art or music… By taking away that 9th period, it may limit what they have access to.”

Mrs. Allen, a special education English teacher, said, “They sometimes need to see their person and touch base with them every day, which wouldn’t happen if that period is dropped sometimes.”

Student opinions vary. Senior Dani Gold supports the change, while sophomore Olivia Mullahy feels indifferent.

“I think I will learn no matter what kind of schedule I have,” said Mullahy.

Dr. Hassler notes that the current schedule was chosen for its flexibility, and to accommodate the district’s large size and diversity of courses.

While a drop schedule can work for smaller schools with fewer course options, Dr. Hassler believes it’s less feasible for a large district like Monroe-Woodbury. A past survey on this schedule showed limited interest, hindering any further adoption.

So, should this district change its scheduling, or has enough work been done on it already?

A drop schedule seems to work at some schools for reducing the stress of students. However, it’s possible that students used to drop schedules might experience the same level of stress.

Schedules should serve the needs of students, not anybody else.

“I wouldn’t care for a schedule change,” said Dr. Hassler, “all that matters to me is the students and how they do with [the schedule we have].”