Students ask board to restore midday ‘lunch-and-learn’ time and request more practice space and field markings

Multiple students — including student council president Joshua Owens and vice president Lucas Ngo — raised concerns during public comment about the high school’s schedule change that replaced a midday “lunch-and-learn” period with a morning Panther Prep block and about the loss of club and meeting time.

Students said Panther Prep, which splits a 45-minute lunch and a roughly 30-minute prep period into a different configuration, shortens the time available for clubs, limits access for students who arrive late because of bus timing, and disadvantages students who rely on the midday block to meet with teachers or hold club activities. Joshua Owens said some students cannot use Panther Prep because they have morning commitments and that club participation has been hampered: “This is taking essential time from these clubs,” he said, noting the high school supports roughly 60 clubs.

Students urged the board to reconsider the change or study alternatives that preserve equitable access to club time and teacher help. The superintendent reminded speakers this public-comment period is not a question-and-answer forum but offered to meet with students and staff in a follow-up meeting.

Separately, student Elizabeth Stryker, representing the color guard, asked for repainting of yard-line markers on the practice field used while the stadium is under construction and requested more consistent access to a full-size gym during the indoor season. She described difficulty executing and rehearsing outdoor and indoor shows without visible field markers and consistent practice space and asked for practical, low-cost solutions such as repainting and scheduling adjustments.

Board members and administrators said staff would accept detailed requests via email and explore scheduling options; no formal board action was taken during the meeting.