Last year, Middletown High School staff was highly considering a schedule change for the the 2015-2016 school years that would accommodate a 40-minute FLEX block. Ultimately, this FLEX block schedule proposal was adjusted to be a Friday-only schedule.

This would allow time for tutoring sessions with teachers, peer tutoring, club meetings, accessing the Media Center, studying and meeting with teachers.

However, the original idea hasn’t died a quiet death and may still be considered for next year. Several other Frederick County schools are beginning to use this schedule as an everyday routine.

The schedule change is still being considered because it would give opportunities to students for meeting with teachers during the day, rather than having to stay after school for tutoring.

Teachers would be able to provide regular tutoring sessions, test review sessions and meet with students about individual or class progress.

The goal of a FLEX period is to improve overall academic performance and standardized test scores while encouraging school culture at the same time.

Under one plan under consideration last year and still a possibility for next year, all classes would be reduced from 90 minutes to 80 minutes. The five-minute transition and 30-minute lunch periods would stay the same. Announcements would occur during the FLEX time instead of during block two.

The proposed plan includes the FLEX between second and third period.

During lunch shifts in late April 2015, there were three focus groups who met and discussed FLEX periods. The students involved were asked to listen the proposed schedule change and give honest feedback, either orally or through an anonymous ballot.

The feedback given during the focus group was reviewed for the official proposal that  staff discussed and vote on during May 2015. The vote did not meet the required percentage to implement the change, so the modified Friday schedule was adopted as an alternative. So far, many students have enjoyed the change.

MHS sophomore Grace Sheedy said that she likes the schedule since it is a change from the old inconsistent club days last year. “I actually like that [flex Friday] because before the change, it was very confusing and now you know when it will happen,” said Sheedy.

“I like it because I get less time in class and more time doing interesting stuff and clearing my mind,” said MHS sophomore Patrick Dempsey.

“I feel like it is better, I mean if you need a study hall, you can have one every Friday,” said MHS senior Ed Guerrero.

“I feel like it has more school pride involved calling the club part black and orange days,” said Andrew Myers, MHS junior.

 Dale Kline, MHS senior added, “It’s not really that bad, but it doesn’t really affect me. It was a lot easier, I guess, because you had one thing you had to go to.”

The original proposal for an everyday FLEX schedule has been talked about by the staff for a while. The name itself has been discussed in depth. It is not just a traditional study hall; it is much more.

Students would be assigned to a study hall. They would have a choice to either stay there and study, do school work, be pulled out by a teacher or club advisor and sign up for the media center, open gym or peer tutoring center.

A teacher could request a student to be tutored or to peer tutor others. Students could also be pulled from class to finish work, get caught up on material they have missed, for whole class reviews and to take make-up tests and quizzes.

Club advisers would pull students out for club meetings and executive board meetings. Clubs would not meet every day during the FLEX block, only three or four times a month.

There would also be planned assemblies and college visits during the FLEX block.

A Google classroom will be made available to students for SAT preparation and study skills. Students would also be encouraged to use Naviance and to work on college resumes and essays.

For now, the Friday-only plan is what is in place, but it seems likely that with its success, consideration for the next step, an everyday change, could be under consideration once again.