Grissom High School and Huntsville High School currently utilize a modified block schedule consisting of alternating days with four classes each. There is a plan in the works  to change to a traditional block schedule of four classes that switch by semester instead of day. Students and teachers have already had to deal with drastic changes in testing, grade platforms, and schedules while also under the stress of a global pandemic- no change is going to enact a miracle while we’re going through all this. We implore the BOE to consider the harmful effects of such a transition. The traditional block suggestion is part of a broader pattern of the district making well-intentioned decisions without always thinking about the impact on students and teachers. After nearly two years of learning while being interrupted by COVID and internet struggles, learning a year’s worth of content in a semester, regardless of having the class every day, is a lot to ask. Many students would have to consider dropping electives and would lose an opportunity to engage in the creative, project-based learning offered by fine arts. The performing arts programs at Grissom are some of the most storied and accomplished programs in the school and in the state, thus hurting the arts hurts the entire school in reputation while depriving students of the development of invaluable life skills not taught in core classes. Having to accommodate for AP classes or the ACT without having a specific class year-round for longer than 45 minutes would also be incredibly mentally taxing. The adjustment of splitting first and second block into 45 minute everyday classes for AP courses would lessen the number of blocks for each AP course to only two, meaning fewer students would have the opportunity to take the courses and gain college credit. Other students could potentially spend an entire semester without taking a math, English, or science course, leaving them with memory gaps that could be reflected in lower ACT scores. The drawbacks of a traditional block schedule impact nearly every aspect of what makes a high school successful and distinctive: extracurriculars, college prep classes, and your precious test scores.