Supposedly starting next year, Fayette County schools will begin having a 7-period day. It has long been a struggle for McIntosh students to balance AP classes, CTAE pathways, Foreign language classes, and Fine Arts programs with a busy schedule. With only 6 periods a day and 4 periods a day taken up by core classes, students have to make sacrifices.

Currently, the only way to fit another elective into a students schedule is to take a zero-period, and very limited classes are offered for zero period. Often, the students who want to take a zero period are also signed up for AP classes, and since AP classes are not offered for zero period, they are forced to give up one of their electives.

The idea is that the 7-period day will be implemented with “principal flexibility” meaning that Mrs. Fine will be able to change the schedule to how she thinks is best for our school. Since technically MHS is already on a 7 period schedule with IF, this could mean that a normal 7-period schedule will not be implemented.

However, the superintendent is really pushing the 7-period day. A more likely option that Mrs. Fine has discussed is “opt-out,” an option for high achieving upperclassmen that allows them currently to not have an IF. Mrs. Fine has stated that she would like to have an opt-out option for academically advanced students for the 7-period day, and that it is likely that this opt-out period will be in the beginning of the day, not at the end as it is currently, since many students need to be at school near the end of the day for clubs or sports.

For more opinions on the 7 -period day check out the February issue of the MHS Trail.