Great Bend High School Principal Tim Friess says it may sound like a cliché, but their staff has always tried to do what is best for the students.

In an effort to increase graduation rates, find more time for student interventions, create extra class choices, and bump up teacher plan periods, the Building Leadership Team at the High School proposed a schedule change to the USD 428 Board of Education.

Friess says the plan would add an extra period to the day, going from seven to eight, and would essentially give students more chances to earn credits to graduate.

Tim Friess Audio

Great Bend High School’s recent graduation rate was 83 percent, putting the school in the bottom 100 in the state, according to Friess. Students need 24 credits to graduate and currently there are 28 credits available. Adding eight periods to the day would give them access to 32 credits.

Of course squeezing an extra period into the school day would shorten classes from 48 minutes to 45 minutes, and as school board member Cheryl Rugan pointed out, a possibility of giving students extra work.

Cheryl Rugan Audio

Friess noted there are study halls available to students an hour before and after school to receive help with homework or makeup assignments.

Great Bend High School has been running with a seven-period day since 2012 when the school made the change from the “block” format with four 90-minute classes alternating each day.

Monday’s presentation from Friess was the first reading of the proposed schedule change at the high school. The topic will be brought up again at the March school board meeting.