Mustang High School proposes end to semester‑exam exemptions, bell‑schedule and graduation changes

Mustang High School administrators presented a package of proposed changes to the Board of Education including elimination of semester‑test exemptions, a new bell schedule that creates a built‑in lunch hour, an optional early “0 hour,” expanded course offerings and an open‑campus lunch proposal for 11th and 12th graders.

Principal Dr. Knowles and assistant principal Cody Little said the district has moved semester assessments to common benchmarks tied to college‑and‑career readiness standards; they argued exemptions by high‑grade students leave gaps in data used to improve instruction. “When students are exempt from those benchmarks, that creates problems because then we're not getting accurate data,” Knowles said, explaining the recommendation to end the exemption practice so every student would take benchmark exams used in place of semester tests.

Administrators proposed shifting from the current split‑lunch seven‑period schedule to a single eight‑period schedule that treats lunch as one of the periods so the entire building moves on one bell. That change would eliminate split lunches that force portions of students to leave class mid‑period. The proposal also includes a voluntary 0 hour (starting about 7:45 a.m.) for core courses, intended to provide flexibility for students and staff and reduce peak‑period traffic. Transportation would not be provided for 0 hour.

On open campus lunch, officials proposed offering the option to juniors and seniors only, paired with a longer lunch (46 minutes plus 7‑minute passing windows) to allow students time to leave and return safely. Administrators said the district has informally allowed some juniors and seniors who are in concurrent enrollment or career‑tech programs to leave campus and has not experienced extensive problems; they noted the district will keep safety and parking logistics under review.

Administrators also described course changes designed to align with new state graduation rules: House Bill 3278 requires a single diploma and adds a fourth year of math for future graduating classes, while Senate Bill 2672 (as described in the presentation) gives districts transitional authority and requires parental permission before moving an individual student to the new pathway prior to the 2030 cohort. Staff proposed bringing a written plan in March to put freshman and sophomores on the new requirements (with parental choice preserved for upper grades until 2030).

No immediate vote was taken on the proposals; administrators said they will return in March with specific motions for the board, and with a list of new or revised courses to be submitted to the state for approval as needed.