BSHS implements new “modular” schedule

Since Henry Clay High School reopened its blue and gold gates in the fall of 1970, the schedule has been the same: six classes, five days a week. Other high schools like Dunbar and Tates Creek have a block schedule. Bryan Station, on the other hand, voted last October to incorporate a different type of schedule, one never before seen in Fayette County. The DA reached out to a BSHS student who experienced the change firsthand.

The modular schedule, as it is called, is designed to be similar to an average college schedule. “The modular schedule at Bryan Station… is split up into 15 to 20 minute mods,” BSHS Senior Kyle King said. “Some classes could last two [mods] while others could last four. Certain classes will meet every day and others every other [day].”

Classes occur in sets of Monday/Thursday and Tuesday/Friday. Each Wednesday alternates between Monday/Thursday and Tuesday/Wednesday classes. Students must also take an advisory (“homeroom”) class on Wednesday, for which they get a credit for towards graduation, in which they learn important study/test-taking skills, and even learn about college and applying.

Missy Browning, BSHS paraeducator and Collaborative Opportunities through Positive Experiences (COPE) advisor, said that Bryan Station created a 60-person ‘design team’ last fall; it was comprised of teachers, faculty, and even a select few students who were interviewed for ideas. The design team ultimately crafted and implemented the new system. Several test runs occurred last school year, but the change is permanent for the 2014-2015 year.

Although it may have gotten off to a rocky start, many believe that the change was for the better.

“Teachers get to know their students better because they see them on a more regular basis,” Browning said. She believes that the new modular schedule is more confusing than a block schedule, but allows students and teachers to work on a closer level and provide students with a more customized school environment. She is adamant that the modular schedule, however, is better than the old block schedule was.

“The new scheduling helps with certain classes so they can meet every day and have the subject fresh in your mind,” King said, “while other classes like science…that don’t need to meet every day, are longer and give students time to work on labs and projects.”

Because of the constant class changes, there are no bells at Bryan Station, and so students have to watch the clock. Both Browning and King believe the modular schedule idea needs work to be perfected.

“This new modular schedule has the potential to be better than block scheduling but it falls short in certain areas and it still seems as if it wasn’t planned out as well as it could’ve been,” he said. “Hopefully it will get better throughout the year… they will work out a lot of the kinks, but for the time being I think that block scheduling is better.”

When compared to HC’s schedule, Browning believes that the modular schedule is, despite being better than BSHS’s old block schedule, is inferior to that of the six-classes-every-day. She says that the Henry Clay schedule allows for students to get to know their teachers, have adequate class time, and not be swept away by the constant stream of changing classes.