High school unveils 'Bulldog Break' midday schedule to expand student interventions

Odessa High School administrators presented a plan to replace the previous short advisory period with a 50‑minute midday 'Bulldog Break' that combines lunch, supervised social time and scheduled interventions.

The presenting administrator (speaker 1) said the prior schedule had limited advisory value and described the new format: the school will run the first four class hours, pause for a 50‑minute Bulldog Break during which students may eat in designated areas or attend appointments with teachers arranged via an e‑hall‑pass system. The administrator described a supervision plan that places 10 teachers across supervised zones, plus administrators and an SRO. “If a kid has an F, they're not allowed to participate in the bulldog break,” the administrator said; those students would instead be assigned academic support during that time.

Supporters on the board and staff praised the emphasis on relationship building and interventions as the main benefits of the change. Board members and staff asked practical questions about door control, radios for field supervision and how the schedule balances teacher duty and lunch time. The presenter said teachers will still receive a 25‑minute lunch and that a bell will split duty and break time to coordinate coverage.

Why it matters: the schedule change is intended to create structured time for targeted academic interventions and relationship building without extending the school day. Staff said the district will run the normal schedule through Labor Day and move to the Bulldog Break model after Labor Day, with internal guidance for students and teachers.