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Rock Springs High School to tweak accelerated schedule; freshmen campus transitions and longer lunches planned
Summary
High school administrators proposed schedule adjustments intended to reduce transitions between the main and satellite campuses, add five minutes to lunch, move the school’s 'power hour' into the middle of the day and provide year‑long math/English supports.
Rock Springs High School administrators presented a revised accelerated schedule to the Sweetwater County School District #1 board on May 20, saying changes are intended to reduce frequent building transitions, ease logistics for freshmen at the satellite campus, and preserve year‑long math and English instruction.
Assistant principal/administrator Mr. Strutka (presenting) said the school implemented an accelerated every‑day schedule this year and collected stakeholder feedback. "The schedule needs to reflect our students...time and the schedule, they like having things every day," he said, summarizing survey results.
Administrators described several concrete changes for the coming year: relocating the power‑hour block from the end of the day to the middle, using a two‑day block rotation (Monday/Tuesday vs. Wednesday/Thursday) to limit split schedules for students who take college classes, and reworking transit at lunch so freshmen can eat on the satellite campus while older students remain on the main campus.
To lengthen lunch by five minutes without shortening instructional time, administrators proposed trimming a brief second‑breakfast period from 10 to 5 minutes and adding those minutes to lunch. The proposal also creates targeted "applied skills" or "foundations" classes during the former power‑hour so students not currently enrolled in math or English will have year‑round, leveled options; administrators said math foundations would be taught by math teachers while applied math might be taught by science teachers, and parallel arrangements would apply for English.
Strutka acknowledged lingering concerns: transitions between satellite and main campuses, staffing to cover all core levels, and student access to electives such as performing arts. A parent speaker later told the board she fears year‑long electives could limit students' ability to take multiple arts classes; the district said administrators will study that feedback and consider schedule tweaks.
Administrators said they will track outcomes and recommended a multiyear window for evaluation: "If you put anything big into place, you're looking at at least 3 years, if not more," Strutka said. No formal schedule change was voted on at the meeting; the presentation was informational and board members said they will monitor student performance data and stakeholder feedback.
