The new school year brings a new schedule to accommodate state laws; faculty and students share their thoughts on the effects of the new schedule

As of the 2022-23 school year, Ventura High School has implemented a new schedule in order to comply with federal Senate Bill 328. This bill does not allow high school students to start school before 8:30 a.m. The law went into effect on July 1. Students and faculty alike have had to adjust to the new schedule. 

Science teacher Jared McEntyre has loved the block schedule so far. He said, “I am way more relaxed. I have more time to prepare for classes, which is good for students when I have that extra time to prepare for them. I’m not as rushed throughout my day because when I get rushed trying to do a lot for kids, I could become a little bit of a jerk.” 

The new schedule is set up so that first or second period occur, then nutrition break, third or fourth period, lunch, fifth or sixth period and finally seventh period. This means students have about half the classes they would typically have in the 2021-2022 school year’s schedule. 

McEntyre said, “There is not as much wasted time. In the schedule we had last year there was a lot of wasted time in transition. Because we have less transitions, we have less wasted time. I also like [that] students only need to prepare for a couple of classes the next day. And teachers, same thing. We only prepare for a couple classes the next day, as opposed to all five or six that we teach.”

Many people however, don’t feel as strongly as McEntyre does. Ellie Anestos ‘24 said, “[Block schedule] is fine I guess. Maybe I’ll get bored of it one day, but for now it’s kinda good.” 

Anestos said, “You have to sit in a chair for 100 minutes. I don’t like sitting for that long. Some days I get to leave because I don’t have a fifth. So, after third I can leave and go home, but otherwise there’s no other benefits.” 

Many students have gap periods, meaning that they now have a 100-minute gap when they aren’t in class. Some students are able to finish their days early, but those who aren’t must report to the library or the cafeteria.

Throughout the week, VHS librarian Susan Adamich has numerous students spend hours in the library due to the new rule of reporting to the cafeteria or library during a gap period. Adamich said, “I think there’s way too many students with a gap period.”

Adamich said, “I think it’s gonna be just like any other year. We’re right at the beginning and we’re already looking forward to the end.”