As Spring Valley High School kicks off the new academic school year, many students begin to face unexpected challenges with the way their schedules are set up. The recent changes, which include adjustments to the Spring Valley tardy policy, have sparked concerns among students attending Spring Valley.
Students have various reasons for wanting changes to their schedules, from balancing academics with after-school activities to ensuring they meet graduation requirements. Many upperclassmen are focused on building a transcript that reflects their college and career aspirations. For these students, AP and honors courses are critical, and schedule conflicts could impact their competitiveness in college admissions.
“My schedule was actually perfect, it was just really upsetting that there were classes I wanted to take as a senior, but couldn’t because of schedule conflicts,” said senior Angela Musoki.
Guidance counselors have been working overtime to accommodate students’ requests for schedule changes, but the process has been challenging due to limited class availability and the complexity of meeting all students’ needs.
“Major issues were things like having two English classes on their schedule or the wrong level of math,” said IB councilor Samantha Gebbia. “We were not honoring a lot of elective changes because that form closed in February, and we constantly reminded students to make sure that they like their electives,” said Gebbia.
“When school started, I had to get my schedule changed because I did not like my art class. I didn’t want my schedule changed just because I didn’t like the class, art was not the elective I picked last year, I was meant to have MUN, so that was really the only issue, but changing that one class changed my whole schedule around,” said senior Gabriella Chimaroke.
In addition to the schedule changes, students are surprised about the new tardy policy that has been implemented this year. This year if students have up to 10 tardies per semester, they will be denied entry into school events. Along with this, according to CCSD Regulation 5113, if students have seven absences in a single semester, they will be denied credit. The new policy is part of the administration’s effort to improve attendance and reduce classroom disruptions caused by late arrivals.
“Being on time is important to us and future employers, so you have to be inside of the classroom when the bell rings,” said Gebbia. Along with the tardy policy, If you are more than 30 minutes late to class, you will be considered absent.
However, many students feel that the policy is too harsh and difficult to follow, particularly given the five minute passing periods. Students have argued that navigating the crowded hallways and getting from one side of the school to the other within five minutes is nearly impossible, especially for those with classes in the portables.
“I just feel like it should be 12 to 15 tardies only because many kids rely on the city/school bus as I was one of them and the city bus isn’t reliable enough,” said Musoki.
For now, students are encouraged to plan ahead, manage their time wisely, and communicate with their teachers if they encounter difficulties in getting to class on time. Counselors are also offering support to students who feel overwhelmed by the changes. As Spring Valley navigates this new policy, students and staff alike hope to find a solution that maintains discipline without causing undue stress.
