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Students urge board to keep 90‑minute block schedule, present petition with 268 signatures
Summary
More than a dozen DelVal students told the school board that a proposed shift to a rotating drop schedule would reduce instructional time, shorten lunches and hurt extracurricular participation; student council member Christian Wing said a petition collected 268 signatures from freshmen and sophomores (84.5%).
More than a dozen students asked the Delaware Valley Regional High School District Board of Education on Thursday to abandon a proposal to move from the current 90‑minute A/B block schedule to a rotating drop schedule.
"Out of the 317 combined freshmen and sophomores, we garnered 268 signatures, 84.5% of the two grades," said Christian Wing, a sophomore and member of the student council, presenting a petition the student body circulated. He said the change would "harm academic opportunities," overwork students and staff, and weaken preparation for college.
Several other students echoed those concerns. "Our current block schedule gives students opportunities to think critically, communicate, collaborate, and work independently," Margaret Crabby, a sophomore, told the board. "In college, students are expected to manage longer class periods. Our current schedule is closer to that environment."
Grace Coady cited research that she said shows longer class periods can improve outcomes and reduce time lost to transitions. "Longer class periods also improve academic performance," she said, urging the board to review cited studies before deciding.
Students raised practical concerns as well. "Shorter lunches would make it harder to get help from teachers, attend club meetings and get food," Noah Reynolds said, arguing that the current schedule supports extracurricular participation and provides time for make‑up work.
The board did not take a vote on the proposal. An administrator told the board the schedule change is at an early stage of the district's strategic‑plan work and there have been no decisions. "We are currently at the very, very beginnings of this process," an administrator said, adding the administration plans presentations and listening sessions with student groups before any change is implemented.
Board members thanked students for speaking and requested more comparative data. Several members said they were impressed by the student turnout and suggested additional public information sessions and a clear communications plan before advancing any formal recommendation.
Next steps: the administration will share detailed proposals and data with the board and hold further engagement sessions; no timeline for a final decision was announced.
