Another summer filled with long, hot, relaxing days has passed, and Wheat Ridge High School students have been marching through the halls in hordes since returning to school. While walking in those hallways during the first week of school, I kept overhearing many students talking about the same problem: their schedules were messed up, and there was nothing they could do about it.

Last year, Wheat Ridge students were given the option to come into school a week prior to the first day of school and resolve their schedule if necessary. Students would walk around the school and get a schedule change sheet filled out by any teacher they needed. While I can admit that this method was hectic, it still worked, and students were able to mend their schedules to their liking. Instead of finding a way to make the process better, the administration decided to do away with it.

“It doesn’t benefit anyone,” said Kim Ota, junior, regarding not being able to change her schedule. “It only complicates the lives of the students because they are placed in classes they aren’t happy in.”

The administration and counselors have said that the main reason they did not allow schedule changes at the beginning of the year was because it interfered with the making of the master schedule. This was discussed in further detail with counselor Heather Hanson:

“When students sign up for classes in January, we base the master schedule off of the class sections that campus portal creates. When students change their minds after picking in January, the master schedule has to be redone.” She explained that the administration is currently trying to “develop new procedures to make sure students get the classes they want when they sign up in January.”

Most students, especially seniors, have expressed their frustrations about not getting into the classes they originally wanted.

“Policies should be made to benefit the students who are concerned about their future, not the staff who doesn’t want to do the paperwork involved with schedule adjustments,” said Leah Downey, senior. “This only benefits the staff,” she concluded.

If the administration wanted to alter the way schedule changes were done, they should have revised a plan to make it better, and not just take it away. For instance, have freshmen and sophomores come in on one day and juniors and seniors the next day. Maybe organize it by name, organize it by counselor… the list of solutions goes on and on. The administration should consider the student’s opinions on their own schedules when making changes to how they work.