Last school year, the Board of Education began questioning the trimester system. As part of their review, they asked staff and students for feedback, and the results weren’t even close. Both groups overwhelmingly supported keeping trimesters. Yet despite this clear consensus, the Board continues to entertain the idea of switching to semesters.

Students and teachers both appreciate the flexibility that comes with the trimester system. The longer class periods lead to more work time with less homework. Kids are already struggling with homework, so why should we be given more? The three grading periods also give students more opportunities to improve their grades, explore electives, and recover lost credits if needed. The smaller class sizes lead to stronger teacher-student relationships.

What’s even more alarming is that switching to semesters would cause us to lose a lot of staff. These teachers don’t want to have to make the switch in lesson plans. We would be losing experienced, dedicated professionals who have built strong relationships with their students and helped shape our school’s success. Losing them would be a serious setback, especially since switching to semesters would likely require hiring additional staff. It’s not just unpopular, it’s impractical.

It would also create major ripple effects across our district. Flint Hills Tech would become an unknown for future juniors, since its schedule is built to align with the trimester system. Junior high students would lose several classes and be forced back into block scheduling, undoing years of progress that have given students more flexibility.

It’s also worth noting that when the survey was sent out to students last year to determine our preferences, a lot of the seniors voted for semesters, not because they preferred them, but because they wanted to mess with the underclassmen. The majority of students who care about the long-term impact made it clear: trimesters are the better option.

It’s hard not to feel dismissed. The Board asked for our opinions, got a clear answer, and still seems determined to push forward with a change that few actually want. If they’re not going to listen to the people who live with the consequences, then who exactly are they listening to? As a student, I’ve always taken pride in being a Brave. But when our voices are being ignored and our educators are pushed to the brink, that pride starts to fade. The board needs to respect the people who make this school great. The trimester system works. Leave it alone.

Colton Elsen

Sophomore at Council Grove Junior Senior High School