The Naperville Community Unit School District 203 has proposed changes to school schedule times and implementing a block schedule. Metea students expressed their thoughts on implementing some of these potential changes.
At the most recent District 203 board meeting on Feb. 3, officials discussed a potential new schedule for elementary, middle, and high schools. The new layout includes a block schedule with an anchor day on Wednesdays for middle and high schoolers.
The board members presented the anticipated benefits of the change, including a manageable workload and the opportunity for high school students to build deeper connections with teachers. However, concerns were raised about transportation constraints and shifts in student sleep schedules.
Metea students have various reasons for supporting or opposing the proposed District 203 and if they would want District 204 to do the same. Sophomore Prisha Singhal supports the proposed schedule, citing previous experience with block schedules and how it helped contribute to her learning experience.
“I went to school in Pennsylvania earlier, and we were on a block schedule,” Singhal said. “I feel like I was also learning so much more because I had breaks between classes.”
On the other hand, some Metea students have a more neutral opinion on this schedule. Sophomore Srinika Gundlapally points out the advantages and disadvantages, noting that it could help students manage their workload, but it might interfere with other tasks.
“Block days would give students a chance to focus on certain days to complete their classwork, but it might interfere with the student’s learning,” Gundlapally said.
While the proposed schedule would give students more time to get work done and study for upcoming assessments, some prefer to keep the current District 204 schedule, saying extended class periods would be harder to sit through.
District 203 is also considering changing high school start times from 7:45 a.m. to 8:20 a.m. while keeping the same dismissal time at 3:10 p.m. Sophomore Amara Akhter believes that Metea’s current schedule is better, as she prefers to have more time for extracurricular activities after school.
“I also think it’s better for people who especially have to work after school or have extracurricular activities, because they can end school earlier and make sure that they have time available to do homework,” Akhter said.
Although Metea students have mixed opinions as to if they would want a schedule change the Director of Communication Services Lisa Barry confirms District 204’s decision to keep the current schedule.
“We are not planning to make any schedule changes at this time,” Barry said.
