McIntosh is in a budget deficit, and one way to help the school start making money is with increasing the required amount for parking passes. The original amount for parking passes was $40 for golf cart and $60 for car. In the latest Chiefs Connection, the price is listed as raising to $80 for golf carts and to $120 for cars.
The Trail reached out to admin for comment, none of the five administrators responded in time for press.
“The car parking is just so convenient for me, especially since I don’t have to cross that four-way intersection. So to have that suddenly taken away really affects traffic and how much longer I would be waiting,” junior Ava Prescott said.
Not only does this affect people who park on campus but this can also affect people who don’t park on campus. Whether it be across the street or at the church.
“I feel like it’s a slap in the face to the people who don’t park on campus. We already have limited space on campus as is. So, I already know that spaces are going to fill up quickly and it will be harder and longer to find a spot to park,” sophomore Alexander Bushmire said.
The ban on vending machines and the upcharge on school lunches is set to start next semester, the 2024-2025 school year. Continue scrolling for more on those stories.
Stanley cups at McIntosh High School are now banned. Having been ruled a disruption to the classroom environment, the school cites chronic leaks, spills and noise as justifying the removal of Stanleys.
The Trail reached to administration for comment, and did not receive a reply in time for publication.
Stanley’s thirst quencher tumblers have recently grown in popularity, with TikTok influencing people to buy them for their aesthetic appeal as well as supposed functional use. However, they can distract students in the classroom.
“Stanleys are so loud when they are dropped. Everybody gets off track for a while just because somebody dropped their Stanley. It interrupts the teacher,” senior Cindy Wheeler said.
When Stanleys are tipped over they leak from the straw which means people would have to take time from instructional time to clean up the spill.
“Water gets everywhere and we have to get like a million paper towels, if the teacher even has any. Or we have to walk back and forth from the bathroom to get some,” freshman Ava Downey said.
Some students support the decision, having their own annoyances with the water bottle trend.
“I think they are too big. There is literally no need to carry a big metal water bottle. Also, the straw being out in the open is so unsanitary,”
— sophomore Cooper John
Others, who have Stanleys on their own, feel the school is going too far.
“It’s a water bottle, I need water at school, and I bought it and own it. They can’t tell me not to bring stuff that’s my like private property. That’s got to be illegal or something,” sophomore Olivia Winey said.
The different colored Stanleys can be too much for some people to handle.
“I don’t understand the hype about Stanleys, it is just a regular tumbler. The colors distract me every time someone picks it up because they are eye-catching,” junior Allison Jim said.
In the last school board meeting, Fayette County Board of Education made the vote to shorten summer vacation by two weeks, beginning the summer of 2024.
“We’ll be back in school so students can learn.”
— Leon Hammond
“Summer is the time of relaxation. When it’s summer I don’t have to worry about school or certain expectations,” sophomore Courtney Banks said.
The benefit to a shorter summer vacation is that in year- round school is students learn more and don’t have to worry about learning loss. This will maximize the amount of instruction so students can get smarter.
Studies show that during the summer most people with phones who spend more than three hours of screen time lose about 15% of their IQ.
Over the February four day weekend McIntosh received an anonymous donation of $1.5 million dollars. This donation included the caveat that it had to be used on technological development at the school. MHS administration made the decision to , this money will be invested into students gaining new iPads instead of Chromebooks.
“I can’t wait to use iPads in class. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy my Chromebook and having the opportunity to use it in classes, but iPads are just so much more useful in many ways and they are more current,” junior Samantha Smith said.
The switch will occur after spring break, starting with distribution to freshmen on April 9, sophomores on April 10 and juniors on April 11. Seniors will not be receiving the new iPads because they will be graduating.
“I think that this is so unfair for us seniors. We have spent countless years with our Chromebooks starting in middle school and it is so disappointing that we won’t get this opportunity.” senior Jack Johnson said.
I think that this is so unfair for us seniors. We have spent countless years with our chromebooks starting in middle school and it is so disappointing that we won’t get this opportunity”
— Jack Johnson
Some underclassmen feel bad for the seniors that will be stuck with their Chromebooks for the rest of the year.
“My senior friends are very disappointed about the switch not happening for them. I really empathize with them, but I am also really excited for all the new platforms and things that will be possible on the iPads that I could have only imagined on a Chromebook,” sophomore Grace South said.
This change at McIntosh will be a test on how the new iPads translate to schools and if they will be a better option than Chromebooks. If the iPads work out throughout the rest of this school year it is expected that J. C. Booth Middle School and feeder elementary schools will also receive iPads for the 2024- 2025 school year. Pending the outcome of the next school year with iPads it is expected that all Fayette County schools will also make the switch.
“As someone with younger siblings I think that this new development will definitely be great for elementary schoolers as there are so many apps nowadays geared towards primary school education. That being said I think that they might pose a distraction to middle schoolers since it will be so easy to play games,” senior Mike Walters said.
Each iPad will be paired with a compact keyboard, charger, apple pen and case. The cases will come in many different colors that students will be able to choose from when they receive their iPad. Some of the color options include black, white, red, orange, yellow, green and blue.
The new iPads are expected to be a major game changer for many elective classes.
Graphic design and art classes will be able to use them for more precise drawings and adaptations that they cannot do on the current Chromebooks.
“I plan to use my iPad for my music in orchestra. I will be able to have all my music in one spot instead of having to carry around a binder that it might fall out of. Also with the added Apple pen I will be able to mark up my music so much easier and more conveniently,” freshman Maddison Paul said.
Literacy rates are decreasing and hopes of Fayette County students having the ability to read and write efficiently are dwindling. In response to this tragedy, Fayette County will become one of the first countries to administer literacy tests for all students, which means that all MHS students will have literacy tests coming next school year.
Literacy tests were banned in 1965 because they were discriminatory. Now literacy tests are being used as a way to ensure the success of all Americans. Fayette County is proud to be the first to hop on this train.
“I think that literacy tests are important to have because a lot of younger students can’t read. My little sister is in middle school and she’s still reading at a fourth grade level,” senior Evalynn Stoneman said.
Students will have three days to complete the test, and the school schedule will have to be altered to make time for the test. The test will have three parts to it that will test reading comprehension, analytical skills and the ability to write in a way that is clear and concise.
I don’t like testing, but I do think that having basic literacy skills is important,”
— Patsy McKline, junior
The first part of the test will consist of a preliminary measurement of reading comprehension skills by providing a series of short passages for students to read before answering around 50 different questions based on each passage. After the preliminary reading comprehension portion of the first section, students will then be asked to read one eight-paragraph informational essay on topics that most students consider to be “dry.” This is meant to test reading endurance. After reading the essay, students will be asked around 80 multiple choice questions based on the subject of the essay. Students will have an hour to complete this portion of the exam.
“I don’t think that we will have [enough] time to finish [the first section of the test],” sophomore Lana Riley said.
Students can rest assured because they will indeed have time.
“I really love [when students are] testing because it gives me a chance to do my nails,” English teacher Jane Edwards said.
The second portion of the exam will ask students to analyze an entire novel of their choosing. For students that have never read a novel before, a list of novels will be provided for students to choose from. It is also encouraged that students display their understanding of themes within a story. The analysis of the novel must be written strictly in MLA format, and it must be at least two pages long.
I don’t think it’s any different from an English assignment,”
— Lana Riley
The third portion of the test will ask students to compose simple sentences that are grammatically correct. There will only be two sentences that students are required to create, so this portion of the test will only take five minutes.
“The whole test sounds pretty straightforward and easy,” Lynn said.
Failure of these literacy exams will require remediation that will have to take place during the first few weeks of summer break. To ensure that students have a really in-depth understanding of reading and writing, remediation for the literacy tests will require students to attend a two-week literacy class and the test will be more extensive, tripling the number of questions on the test. Teachers seem hopeful that this test will likely not have anyone needing to remediate. In fact, they seem to believe that this test will be a breeze.
“I think they should hire [people to give us] manicures during [the] testing [period],” Edwards said.
Beginning in the 2024-2025 school year, Fayette County Board of Education (FCBOE) will be implementing required metal detectors before students entire the school premises, due to the increase of school shootings and intruders in America.
The Trail reached out to the board for comment, but did not receive a response by press time.
For Sylvia Butternut, junior at McIntosh high school, the metal detector policy during her final year attending McIntosh gave her negative feelings about the school year.
“Having metal detectors at school is only going to make it harder for students to operate. Now we can’t wear any jewelry and bring in everyday items that have metal in it,” Butternut said.
For Leroy Adams, freshman at McIntosh high school, his insight pertaining to the big change that is about to happen caused to build a “Ban McIntosh Metal Detectors” page on Change.org.
“Implementing this would have so many negative impacts on the students. It’s already bad enough that students have to be stuck in a building for 8 hours a day, adding metal detectors would make school feel like a prison,” Adams said.
With the online petition already having five hundred signatures, it is clear that there are students who are heavily invested in making sure that the school does not follow through with their plans.
McIntosh parents and PTO members, are divided on what should happen. Some parents see it as their child being in a safer environment while others see it as a gateway for school to become a locked up institution.
For Parent Gloria Myers, having metal detectors in school seems like a safe bet that she is willing to make.
I don’t send my kids to school to be treated like a prisoner. School is supposed to be a place where my child gets his education and is able to express himself freely with his choice of clothing,”
— Brown said
“When I was a kid, I didn’t grow up in the safest neighborhood. I would do anything for my child to grow up in a better place and have more opportunities. With the recent increase of school shootings since the past year, I am all for metal detectors. It would help me be less anxious knowing that my child is in a weapon free zone,” Myers said.
Due to Myers active membership in McIntosh’s POST club, more parents are becoming more aware of the situation. Some parents have a firm opposition towards the detectors.
For parent Lindsay Brown, she has some strong opinions for the FCBOE and tends to make herself heard.
Parents are concerned because simple accessories such as jewelry can now be deemed as “dangerous” on school property.
“My child should not have to be patted down when trying to enter the school building. What’s the point of sending my kids to school if I have to be constantly worried about their safety,” Brown said.
In McIntosh, art class is very popular among many students, but it is being replaced by something else. There will be a change in art next school year from regular art to AI art. Although many are disappointed, the art manager Reena McRae feels excited about it.
“Instead of spending hours, or even days, on art, you can now just type it up,” McRae said.
The class will use Canva to generate their art. Canva President, Tony Sene, expresses his excitement and gratitude towards this.
“I am so excited to have this wonderful feature presented and used in school environments. AI is magical and it deserves to be used in school,” Sene said.
This new change has sparked controversy among students.
“In art class we are supposed to make art, not put in text for a computer to make it,” Hartsop said.
Most art students disagree with the change.
“Taking [art] away kind of hurts. In my last year of high school I would love to do my favorite class. What’s so cool about AI?” Lopez said.
Students, like Olivia Smith, are planning on boycotting the class, Art.I, and instead join classes like Journalism and Audio Video.
“I am sick of this AI stuff. Art was my favorite class. What even is Art AI? It sounds like a knockoff Apple device. So yeah, many people are not signing up,” Smith said.
Some are more passionate than others.
“I am utterly disgusted by this. I have worked so hard in art and now it’s going be taken away from me by some dude who cares about AI more than his own kids,” Pope said.
Editor’s note: This app will only work during school hours. Admin will not track cell phones before 8:35 and after 3:45.
With reports of cell phone use cheating on tests, administration has decided that every student will need to download a tracker on their cell phones.
Obviously we want to make sure students are not cheating on their phones, so we can’t wait to be able to use this app as we get ready to head into finals
— Athletic Director Leon Hammond
Recently teachers have reported a shocking number of 983 students in the last two months who used their phones to cheat on a test. That means 58% of students cheated on tests in the last two months.
Starting after spring break classes will be going in the media center to download this app. If failure to obey this, students will receive two weeks of ISS. If you fail to obey this again, you will be expelled from McIntosh High School.
“Obviously we want to make sure students are not cheating on their phones, so we can’t wait to be able to use this app as we get ready to head into finals,” Athletic Director Leon Hammond said.
Some students complain about the fact that this is unfair to the students who obey the school’s policy.
“I feel like this is unfair to the students who are barely on their phone during the school day to download a tracker on their cell phones,” Freshman Ziya Seemore said.
Senior Mark Wilson agrees.
“They have to watch my phone even though I haven’t cheated on a test for all four years that I’ve been at McIntosh. I feel like I don’t have any privacy,” Wilson said.
Originally it was only going to be in place for the students who cheat on tests, but with the rapid incline of more and more students administration figured it would just be easier to make everyone have this app.
“It’s kind of disappointing as a student who follows directions and obeys the school [policy that all I get is to have a tracker on my phone for being a good student,” sophomore Miles Johnson said.
This app won’t be in place long, it’s simply just to suppress the students who continue to cheat on tests and to make sure that students aren’t cheating on the EOC and finals. Admin will remove the app starting next semester if students follow the policy. Teachers shouldn’t have to keep writing to students and high school students should be responsible enough to study well and not cheat.
During a March 11, unplanned faculty meeting, the administration made the decision to shut down all vending machines to keep kids in class and to promote healthy eating.
“Too many kids are skipping class and going to the vending machines. Kids need to be int heir classrooms learning and not trying to waste time choosing whatever snacks they want,” Assistant Principal Bob Rice said.
Food, snacks, and drinks are universally loved. Students, parents, and even teachers are extremely heated by this decision. And indubitably, everyone wants answers.
“I don’t really care for the school lunches but the vending machines; what if I get hungry throughout the day,” sophomore Eliana Smith said.
Students use food and snacks as a stress reliever and a way to reward themselves for getting through school. Knowing they could’ve stayed home, skipped school or did something knowing they have zero business doing.
“After a hard, tiresome, seven hour day, there is nothing more that I look forward to than going to the vending machine and biting into a Goodbar,” senior Josh Mackerson said.
“I just don’t know what I’m going to eat now. I guess I can just go to Chick-fil-A,” junior Cameron Blake said.
“I would love nothing but apples and pears and bananas in our vending machines,” Rice said.
The ban on vending machines and the upcharge on school lunches is set to start next semester, the 2024-2025 school year. Also, parking passes are also expected to go up.
Students putting their phones in the caddies will no longer be mandatory. With much consideration, the administrators and teachers have come together to make the decision that McIntosh will no longer be “hands-free” and are allowing phones to stay with their owner throughout the school day.
With fewer students putting their phones into the caddies in the classroom, administrators have decided to get rid of the caddies all together. Starting on April 1, phones will be allowed to stay with students while in class.
I consistently forgot to put my phone away, so knowing that I won’t get in trouble for it anymore relieves a lot of my stress,”
— sophomore Emma Fraid.
Since the ban, students have reportedly been on their phones during class. One student was on FaceTime during class.
“[Since the ban], I’ve just loved students being on their phone [during educational time],” Jacqueline Mullen said.
Administrators and teachers are also taking away phone caddies since students have been not using them in the correct manner and have been putting calculators, fake phones and other things in the caddies.
“One time I put a poptart in the caddie instead of my phone,” senior Lana Sneedly said.
After eight years of “Hamilton” being on Broadway and touring, the show is finally coming to McIntosh High School as the spring 2025 musical. Since the production is a lot of work, the show process has already started. Auditions are the week of spring break from 6am to 8pm Sunday through Saturday. The set is already being built for the show, with senior August Moss’ set design being completed during show week of the 2024 musical, Singin’ In The Rain.
“My idea for the set was something really big, but also subtle. You don’t need a big elaborate set for Hamilton, but I also wanted it to be massive,” Moss said.
The musical is a much bigger production than anything McIntosh has ever done.
“We’re bringing in the professionals. I’ve already hired a professional choreographer, and the writer of the musical himself, Lin Manuel Miranda has agreed to fly out to help me direct,” Drama teacher Ken Buswell said.
Fundraising for the expensive show has been in planning since the idea started to circulate. The drama department will be performing as the band at prom to help pay for the show.
I also wanted it to be massive,” Moss said. — August Moss
“I’m excited to perform at prom, it’ll definitely be better than any DJ we’ve ever had,” senior Maximillion Tom-Tom said.
Costumes are most likely to be the highest expense. With the amount of costume changes per actor, one set of costumes is over 5,000 dollars. Due to this, the fee for being in the show will be 500 dollars.
The estimated cost of the show in total is twelve thousand dollars. However, the estimated income of the show is eighteen-thousand dollars. With a run time of a month, every other thing is going on hold for this show.
“I’m quitting chorus for this, there is no way Richard Prouty will take any time away from this,” Junior Beeleh Herreraa said.
There’s a possibility of school even being able to be on hold for the drama superstars.
“I know it’s a rather steep price, but this will also be the most beautiful dynamic show we’ve ever done,” — Ken Buswell
“I’m not sure missing out on the rest of school for Hamilton is the smartest decision, although I guess since its educational I can see how this could work,” drama booster club member Natasha Greenstein said.
Rehearsals are set to start May 1 and continue throughout the summer, fall and finally the show will open March 1 2025.
“I really think this production is gonna be worth it. I’m hoping to get Hamilton, I’ve already started preparing for the roll by growing my hair out. If you’re gonna be Hamilton, you’ve gotta have a low pony,” Taylor Hoot said.
Students are incredibly excited no matter the cost to devote their time and energy into the show.
“I’ve started prepping for the intense dances by watching Hamilton on Disney+ and trying to memorize everything there. This show is my chance to prove myself, and I’m dedicated,” Katrina Nerdburger said.
Shows will be March 1 through April 1, 2024 at 2pm and 7pm every day. Come support your McIntosh Chiefs for the early bird price of $120.99.
“I am not throwing away my shot,” Alexander Hamilton said.
The increased graffiti in the restrooms led to the decision of limiting bathroom usage and time permitted in the restrooms. Administration has made this decision, based on feedback from custodians, to prevent more of this from happening and to prevent profanity from being written on the signs in the women’s restroom.
“The graffiti is getting pretty out of control in our bathrooms, and so what we’re going to start putting in bathroom logs and start monitoring who can go to the bathroom and when. And we’re going to start severely limiting the number of students in the bathroom at a time. It’s [the graffiti] awful, it’s offensive and it needs to stop,” Assistant Principal Bob Rice said.
“I thought it was all really cute until I saw some of the writing in the English hall, it was really rude to say that to the custodians, they are just doing their job,” junior Beatrix Benstine said.
Although some restroom stalls have cute drawings and positivity in them, the bathroom on the English hall has profanity written all over it.
“I was horrified walking into the first stall in the English hall. I’m sad that we are losing our bathroom privileges but I guess that is what had to happen. I mean the threats in the restroom were just last year,” sophomore Louise West said.
The profanity has been carried too far and extreme measures had to be taken to prevent this. Restroom usages will be limited to two uses a day with only four minutes allowed inside the restroom. A restroom log will be at the door or with teachers so that the school can keep track of who is in the restroom and prevent anything more severe from happening.
On Feb. 30, FCBOE made the decision to shorten spring break by two days. The new spring break will be April 3 to April 7. FBCOE made this decision because of the hands free rule not being followed this semester.
English teacher Taylor Schenck, disagrees with FBCOE’s decision.
“Shortening spring break is just going to cause more infractions,” Schenck said.
Some students see where the school is coming from, but disagree.
“So many students are always on their phones during class, but this is a bit too far,” junior Kayla Reed said.
In some classes, students are allowed to use their phones for projects. Senior Graphic Design student Kailey Delour uses apps on her phone to create designs in class.
“My teacher lets me use my phone to take photos around school and edit them on my phone,” Delour said.
Trips for spring break that have been planned prior to the shortening of the break can be affected for staff and students.
“My family has already had a trip to Italy planned prior to the decision. Now it’s just going to be a hassle returning the tickets,” freshman Addy Lamont said.
FCBOE will have a board meeting to discuss new strategies to enforce the hands-free rule. The meeting will be held on April 1, at the FCBOE building in Fayetteville.
“Students need to rest, teachers need to rest as well,” Schneck said.
Legendary American rapper Rick Ross is a high caliber artist, collaborating with artists from the likes of Kanye West and Erykah Badu. This overarching success has led him to an abundance of fame and fortune. His, however, has been on a steep decline since the Coronavirus pandemic of 2020.
Ross has released only one album since the pandemic hit, in 2023 he released “Too Good to be True” to an overwhelming amount of criticism for his laziness and bloated verses. His next album, he announced in “Rolling Stone”, is to be titled “The High School Dropout” and is set to release worldwide next month. As a part of his marketing stunt, Ross proposed and settled agreements to perform his album early in a multitude of schools around Fayette County.
I know he’s gotta censor it, but doesn’t that block his expression of true artistry,”
— Hogar Finklebottom said.
Ross purchased a mansion and moved to Fayetteville in 2008. This 109 room mansion has led Ross to take a liking to his surroundings and try to be more involved with the community. On Mar. 14, 2024, Ross announced that he would be performing his newest album in the gyms of Starr’s Mill High School, Fayetteville High School and McIntosh High School just to name a few. These tours will be fully censored, however, due to the heinous and provocative nature of some of the lyrics.
The concert is set to commence on April 1, 2024, and will be sponsored at the McIntosh gym during school hours. Students will need to sign a permission slip and bring five dollars for Ross to buy Wing Stop.
“Of course I would give him money, [he is my] my glorious king. He’s been in a rut the past few years, he needs a break,” senior Graham O’Keefe said.
Ross wanted to announce parting words before going into hiding in order to put the finishing touches on his album, saying “I wish to change the world. I didn’t need high school. [redacted], I didn’t even need elementary school. I just needed a warm hug and a bucket of ranch, and you woulda seen me soar.”
The McIntosh Trial is the Trail’s April Fools’ Day satirical issue. All stories are fake.
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julien • Mar 29, 2024 at 2:14 pm
bring rick Ross in