by David Hill
Editor

On Monday, Jan. 28, Lincoln High School Principal Kayla Lian and Student Counselor Melora Bergee presented information to the Board of Education Monday night about plans to change the class schedule at Lincoln High School from a block schedule to an eight-period modified block schedule starting the 2025-26 school year.

Block schedules allow schools to organize the school days into fewer, longer class periods. A typical block period lasts 80 to 110 minutes. Where traditional high school schedules are offered, each period is between 45 and 60 minutes long, and classes meet at the same period in the same order every day. Lincoln High School is going to an eight-period modified block schedule at the beginning of the 2025-26 school year.

Lian explained the eight periods would be on Monday, Tuesday and Friday. On Wednesday and Thursday there would be block periods – even periods one day, and odd periods the next.

The school has been studying the move for a couple of years. The discovery process included a leadership team visiting other schools where this change has been implemented.

Lian said there are advantages to the block schedule that they didn’t want to give up, which explains why they went with a modified block schedule. The block schedule, with its longer class period, is beneficial especially for physical education classes, work experience classes and internships.

A couple of other changes to the school’s website should help parents and students navigate the changes and plot future courses and electives.

Bergee explained that a Course Guide and Career Cluster has been updated and can now be found on the Lincoln High School website. Click on “Student Support” on that page and the drop down menu will show several categories. Click on “Counseling.” Then, on the left menu of the Counseling page, click on “Course Registration and Information.” Visitors to this page can find information on required subjects and credit requirements for each grade. They can also explore career possibilities or career clusters.

The Career Cluster is borrowed from the State and shows what classes students should consider when thinking about different careers. Under the Science, Technology, Engineering and Math Career Cluster, for example, the types of classes students should consider would include earth science, AP Bio/Biology, forensics, chemistry, physics, environmental science and others. There are 15 career clusters.

Lian and Bergee also explained that these changes would result in the number of credits required for graduation. Currently, Lincoln High School students must have 29.5 credits to graduate. The proposal would change the requirement to 29 credits. Changes would be implemented beginning with the class of 2028. Minnesota requires students to have 21.5 credits to graduate.

The Board of Education approved a motion to change graduation requirements beginninig with the class of 2028.