FLEX has been part of Granger High for the last two years and has been changed frequently. It first began during lunch, which allowed students to earn an extra 30 minutes of lunch if they weren’t invited to FLEX. This allowed students to have a one-hour lunch period. During this rollout, it wasn’t counted towards CPA or taken seriously.
Then, it was changed to FLEX in the mornings, where it would start at 7:30 and end at 8:00 giving students who were caught up more time to sleep but making it harder to get to school on time. Because of the lack of students attending FLEX time during the morning, the FLEX committee decided to place a thirty-minute class period between the first and second periods.
The latest FLEX schedule began on January 6, and many students have opinions about this new schedule, and it make them question whether this change is for the better. For good or bad, school now starts at 7:30 a.m. for every student.
“I don’t like that we have to get up earlier and the fact that I had to get used to a new schedule, but I did like when FLEX time was a choice more than it being a class. I also lost some of my social time. Overall, I like how it was before. A lot better,” Adiran Sandoval (12) said.
Sandoval is not the only disappointed Lancer. “I think we could’ve gone a whole different route when choosing a new FLEX schedule,” Gio Nava (11) said. “I think the plan we had before was beneficial for everyone, now I think they made it a hassle for everyone including the teachers,” Nava said.
There’s been a major concern with being able to sleep in, but there’s also been more excitement among students who can sleep in later on Fridays. Some students look at the brighter side of the situation and think about how the new schedule would be able to benefit them.
Mason Biddulph’s (12) opinion of FLEX has changed over the years. “I think it’s good especially for my schedule right now, it helped me get caught up on a couple of assignments, I didn’t think it was going to be beneficial,” he said.
“I like how FLEX feels more like a class, and making it required is a benefit for all students, but because of how short and random the period is, most students don’t actually do any work. If I’m being completely honest, I help my friends with their schoolwork outside of school more than I do any work in FLEX time,” Keeley Funk (10) said.
While the new FLEX schedule inspires mixed feelings among students, many teachers also have different opinions.
Ms. Hess has mixed feelings about the schedule. “There’s always pluses and minuses, I like that I get to see the same group of kids often, but it can get messy with all the other requests,” she said.
While FLEX is still new and constantly being tweaked, there is still so much that can be done with FLEX. “I think this change was necessary, but I would prefer to have it at the end of the day,” Ms. Hess said.
As of this year, FLEX is being counted as an extra class and counts towards CPA. Counting it towards a student’s CPA could be very beneficial, but it could also hurt a student academically. “I think counting it towards your CPA is necessary because it is technically now another class period. I like how it helps me with my CPA,” Christian Vera (11) said.
Regardless of students’ opinions on the schedule, it is still constantly being improved and switched around.
“I like homeroom because I can chill and hang out with my friends I also get to sleep and get work done to get caught up,” Ynelly Lopez (9) said.
Many students are pleased that FLEX helps with their CPA. “I like how it can bump up my CPA and help it get higher,” Kenny Lozano (10) said. Others seem to disagree with it but don’t find it much of a concern. Ultimately, most lancers would rather just not have FLEX at all. Despite its challenges, it appears as though FLEX time is here to stay.
With the end of the quarter approaching, FLEX is a beneficial period for students to get their work done and get caught up. Lancers may find it an annoying period to deal with, but this doesn’t mean they always find it troublesome. While this is now Granger’s new FLEX schedule, who is to say when it might change again?
Some students completely forget and end up having to turn around and go to their homeroom or assigned FLEX classroom instead of being able to go straight to second period.
The most confusion comes on Fridays when FLEX time doesn’t take place. This is even harder for students to remember when to be in class because it’s almost as if an entire class period is being taken out of their schedule.
And with Mr. Howe’s promotion and a new principal on the way, many Lancers wonder what the next school year will be like: FLEX or no FLEX.
