High school principal unveils schedule redesign with new "MP time" for student choice and support

Andy Gruber presented a comprehensive redesign of Indian Hill High School's daily schedule aimed at increasing student choice and supporting transitions to postsecondary life. Gruber said the plan combines three seven-period days with alternating block days and a centralized multi-purpose period, called "MP time," that would serve as lunch, academic support, counseling check-ins, club meeting time and wellness activities.

"Student choice and personalization" are central to the proposal, Gruber said, describing MP time as "purposeful time" that will include expanded collaboration between staff and students, guaranteed academic-flex minutes and an "open study" option that lets students choose a library-like quiet area or a more social café environment. The plan would also add an all-day campus café and reconfigure food service logistics (grab-and-go concessions and extended meal hours) to serve students throughout the day.

The presentation stressed supports for younger students: Gruber said orientation programs, tiered mentoring from upperclass students, and a staged rollout will help freshmen learn routines and avoid being overwhelmed. He described digital ID check-ins and a supervision plan to track attendance during MP time and said counseling and academic interventions would be scheduled into that period when needed.

Board members pressed for operational details. One asked whether partner events (entrepreneurship or guest speakers) would be run during MP time; Gruber said yes, adding that MP scheduling eliminates duplicative presentations that previously required repeating the same session across multiple lunch waves. Members also asked about meal-account charges and how families would monitor spending; Gruber replied that purchases would run through existing lunch systems and parents could set limits on student accounts.

Gruber acknowledged the plan would not be instantaneous, describing a phased implementation with orientation on the first days of school and ongoing adjustments. "We're going to start small, work to expand," he said, and emphasized that student accountability and norms would be built into the rollout. The district will monitor early implementation and adjust supervision, food access and spaces such as the gym, media center and courtyard to support the new routine.

Next steps noted in the presentation include additional planning by the high school building leadership team, student and family communications throughout the summer, and operational coordination with food-service partner Aramark. The board did not take a final vote on the schedule at the meeting; presenters said formal adoption and additional details would come before school starts in August.