Schools could add seventh period by fall

MILTON — The Santa Rosa County School District could return to a seven-period day as early as the 2017-18 school year.

Currently, Milton High School teacher Tracie Hodges starts her day with a 7:55 a.m. planning period that lasts until 8:30 a.m. She then has time for parent conferences, and starts classes at 9:15 a.m. She has six class periods and 30 minutes for lunch.

The seventh period adds more planning time for teachers and more abilities to respond to parent and administration requests, according to Superintendent Tim Wyrosdick.

Classes now last 51 minutes and can only reduce to 45, according to seat-time requirements for high school credit.

One concern about adding a period involves after-school activities.

“If the baseball team plays at 6 p.m. at Escambia High School (and) they get out at 3:50 p.m., that’s hardly any time for prep work. It increases absenteeism if we lengthen the high school day too much,” Wyrosdick said.

How much a student’s workload increases with the additional period depends on what that period is, according to Wyrosdick. The extra period could contain an honors course, dual enrollment, drama or band.

Students on an academic track can take a class or elective outside that field, according to Hodges. Athletes will be able to have a study hall in the middle of the day, she said.

To graduate, students need 24 credits and, right now, they have 24 opportunities to earn those. A student who fails must retake the class online or attend summer school. With a seventh period, that student could retake the course at school on a computer, Hodges said.

“We’re excited and hopeful for the implementation (of the seven-period day) for the 2017-18 school year,” Gulf Breeze High School Principal Daniel Brothers said.

The teachers at GBHS want the same, he said.

“The extra period allows them to showcase their talents to students,” he said.

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Editor's Note: Updated article to note only middle and high school teachers would gain a planning period. 

THE ISSUE: The Santa Rosa County School Board voted to dedicate $3 million in its budget to add a seventh period to the school day.

LOCAL IMPACT: Middle and high school teachers will gain a planning period, students another class.

This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Schools could add seventh period by fall