Stillwater schools propose modified 7x2 schedule to expand pathways, add credits and staff

Stillwater Area High School leaders presented a proposal to the Stillwater Area Public Schools Board of Education on expanding student opportunities by moving from the current six-period (6x2) day to a modified seven-period, two-semester (7x2) schedule.

The proposal, delivered by Principal Rob Bach and assistant principal Matt Craft, aims to add two credit-bearing course slots per student year (14 course slots under 7x2 versus 12 under 6x2), create more access to pathways sequences (introductory → intermediate → advanced), offer an option for students to graduate with an Associate of Arts degree on campus and launch a district-run online academy. "We are gonna be talking about expanding opportunities at Stillwater Area High School," Chair Sherman said when the study session opened.

Why it matters: district staff said the schedule change would give students more elective choices, allow dedicated flex time for tutoring, internships and social-emotional learning, improve recapture of students now taking outside college courses, and support workforce-aligned programming such as healthcare certifications and cybersecurity. School counselors and pathway leads told the board that students entering college are more successful when they have embedded early college or transcripted credits in high-school pathways.

What the school presented: Rachel Stile, Journalism Teacher and Career Pathways Coordinator,…