Now that exams are postponed to early January, students will have to study for finals over the winter break.
Photo By: Katelyn Liston, Reporter
THIS IS A FOLLOWUP ARTICLE FOR: LARGE IMPACT FROM SCHEDULE CHANGE NEXT SCHOOL YEAR
By: Killian Johnson, Business Manager
All schools in Seminole County will be starting school about two weeks later than usual. The calendar changes that are going into effect this following school year will have a much larger impact than previously thought. Before, the idea was that the school year would be starting later with no changes to anything else, but that is not the case.
School board chairman, Ms. Tina Calderone says, “SCPS is no longer a high performing school district, even though we are A-rated. We therefore no longer have the ability to start school 2 weeks earlier than other districts across the state. Additionally, Labor Day falls on September 7 this year versus September 1 last year […] based on state [law], we may not start any earlier than 2 weeks prior to Labor Day. We hope to work with our state legislators to gain relief from this ruling in the future.”
This means that instead of finishing the first semester before winter break like usual, the first semester will conclude once students come back from their vacation. Consequently, exams will no longer take place on the final days leading up to winter break, but instead when students return.
Junior Brandon Triplett says, “I hate having exams in general, but now that they are after winter break that is going to make studying so much harder. But at least it’ll only affect [the class of 2016] for one year.”
Since school is ending in May for the 2014-2015 school year and starting two weeks later for the 2015-2016 school years, summer will be longer than usual. The downfall is the 2015-2016 school year will not end until June.
Freshman Edwin Garzon says, “I like having two extra weeks of summer, also I think having exams after break gives us more time to study. I definitely prefer this new schedule over the previous one.”
Aside from exams starting later, this calendar change will affect all testing dates. AP exams will not be moved later in the year, and most AP exams take place during March and April; as a result AP teachers will have to change their teaching curriculum since the 4th quarter will not start until March 28.
This new schedule is definitely going to be something students have to adjust to. Many years ago, however, Seminole County used to follow a schedule similar to the new one. It wasn’t until the district received an “A” ranking that Seminole County schools (SCPS) changed their schedules to what is currently being used for the 2014-2015 school year.
Not all students will be in favor of the new schedule. Even the “School Board wasn’t overly thrilled with the new calendar,” says Calderone, but the law is the law.
The class of 2015 will be the last class of seniors who do not have to experience this new schedule. Possibly, Seminole County will once again become a high performing school district, in order to allow Seminole County schools to return back to the 2014-2015 schedule everyone is already adjusted to.