A new timetable for a new semester

Kyle Hong, Staff Writer|April 25, 2022

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With the next school year on the horizon, new laws have made it mandatory to adjust high school bell schedules within the state, causing staff to have to make decisions quickly.

In accordance with Senate Bill 328, next year all high schools must shift their start times so that school days start after 8:30 a.m., resulting in a 30-minute pushback of Diamond Bar High School’s regular schedule.

“I think it [the new schedule] will have a more positive effect because if school starts later, I will have more time to eat breakfast and prepare everything before school starts,” junior Andy Zhang said. “I don’t really mind that it ends later because I usually stay around school just hanging out with friends till then anyways.”

Zhang added that he also feels this was a much needed change when taking into account students who are taking zero period, as the lack of sleep and subsequent quality of health is of particular concern.

In order to make the process of deciding a new schedule as fair as possible, the school had teachers vote on schedules that had been formed based on staff input. Administrators spent roughly a month meeting with staff members during their prep periods to find the best possible plan.

“The schedule is still being finalized at the district office,” Instructional Dean Gabriel Aguilar said. “Currently, our schedule is with the district at the Human Resources Division, and they are working together to finalize the schedule.”

However, some students have been in opposition of this change as the new schedule will shift students’ personal agendas, especially due to the effects it may have in many activities outside of the school day.

“While I think the school day being later will be nice I still am not a big fan of the change,” junior Peter Park said. “This is because it will cause setbacks in my after school activities.”

In order to minimize obstacles presented by the later start time, teachers also considered cutting time off from break and lunch or rearranging their occurrence within the school day such as holding lunch before fourth period.

“We know that the change will have a logistical impact on zero periods, as students will probably consider it more due to the start time being closer to 7:30 [a.m.] rather than 6:55[a.m.],” Aguilar said. “In addition, we will have to see how it will affect our athletics, performing arts and other extracurriculars that happen after school. It’s all going to be a little different, so we’ll have to see what changes.”