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Parents urge board to delay plan to cut high school from six to five periods, citing lost electives and poor outreach
Summary
Multiple parents told the Morgan County School Board they oppose a proposed move from a six-period to a five-period high school day and said the district failed to provide timely information or gather broad community input. Speakers warned the change would reduce elective access and urged alternative fixes to seniors' credit accrual.
Multiple parents urged the Morgan County School Board on Monday to delay a proposed shift at Morgan High from a six-period schedule to a five-period day, calling the district’s outreach and materials inadequate and warning the change would reduce electives and options for students.
“Katie Tilby said the process, in my opinion, is broken,” the parent told the board, describing unanswered requests for proposed schedule documents and asking why there had not been an informational night or public survey before the March board presentation. Christina Evans, a parent of four, argued the schedule change is “fiddling with the light switch” rather than addressing the underlying credit practices that let seniors accumulate excess credits, and described how a five-period day would leave “fewer spots for classes, 12 fewer to be exact.” Heather Nielsen voiced support for an 8 a.m. start time but said reducing class periods could cause academic regression, reduce flexibility for high-achieving students and remove study-hall opportunities that help students facing mental-health challenges.
Parents also raised practical concerns for student-athletes and working students. Cheryl Allen said a proposed flex hour after school would impose long days for athletes who also practice and for students who hold off-campus jobs, and she suggested awarding work credits to seniors engaged in employment rather than moving to a schedule that limits younger students’ opportunities.
Board members acknowledged the concerns and asked staff to clarify the mechanics and impacts of the change. The principal explained concurrent enrollment practices and transition planning for students already midway through earlier graduation-credit requirements, and several members asked staff to provide additional data and consider transitional grandfathering. The board did not take a final vote on the schedule change during the public-comment portion; parents asked that the board pause and gather more analysis and community feedback before any action.
