Ayesha Kazmi, junior, like most other students, has spent her hours of Flex Time making up quizzes and receiving help from multiple teachers.

However, due to the recent discovery of Missouri legislature credit hour qualifications, those hours don’t hold the same value as the rest of the school day. 

On July 5, 2018, the Missouri legislature ruled in favor of the change that schools must be in session for at least 1,044 hours rather than 174 days. And in order to earn their credits, high school students are required to spend at least 7,830 minutes, known as Carnegie minutes, in the classroom. 

However, by that date the RSD Board of Education had already approved the 2019-2020 schedule which implemented Flex Time at all high schools, not knowing the state didn’t count Flex Time toward these requirements. 

“I just feel like Flex Time is a time of extra studying, time for yourself given to you throughout the day,” Kazmi said. “I’m here. I want my time to be counted.”

Assistant Superintendent of Learning and Support Services​ Dr. Shelley Willott said the measures on instructional time have to be achieved along with the original 1,044 hours of school that students have to attend. While Late Starts, Early Releases and Flex Time count towards the 1,044, they don’t factor as much into Carnegie minutes because some instructional time is lost. 

“So the solution to that will be to reduce the amount of Flex Time that we have to ensure that we have the instructional minutes required to meet by the state,” Dr. Willott said. 

She said this reduction of Flex Time will not only make up for the time missed on Aug. 26, but also will cushion in case of another inclement weather day first semester. Due to the inclement weather day schools are between 20-45 minutes behind on instructional minutes.

To solve the problem this semester, Principal Dr. Steve Hankins said an option is being discussed by the high school principals to schedule a few Friday A Days without Flex Time in the future to make up the lost time.

He said currently there is no rush to make a decision and the principals will evaluate student and teacher feedback to make a final decision for this semester, as well as the future.

“There will always be an opportunity for Flex,” Dr. Hankins said.

Planning for next year, Dr. Willott said Flex Time is not the only aspect affecting the amount of instruction minutes so another option is to reduce the number of Late Start and Early Release days.

Philip Schmidt, science teacher, said getting rid of Late Start and Early Dismissal days would be a great solution for next year if the district decides to keep Flex Time as it is now, which Schmidt said is beneficial to meet with individuals, but does not hold the same weight as class time. 

“We’re losing almost 30 minutes a week an AP class and trying to make up for that time during Flex Time is not efficient because I don’t get the same groups of kids together,” Schmidt said.