Even though we have some time before the 2017-18 school year begins, there still is talk of the new schedule. With days off, short breaks, and an early summer, the schedule change brings benefits but also has some drawbacks that won’t be ignored.

For years, DGN scheduled final exams after break. The 2017-18 school year puts final exams scheduled before Winter Break. This gives students time to relax over break instead of wondering how much information they need to cram in their brains before they go back to school.

Earlier final exams mean an earlier school year. School is back in session starting Aug. 18 as opposed to school starting the last week of the month. This change is huge due to the fact that this year is scheduled to end June 8 which means that summer will be cut short for students and teachers.

Short summer results in an earlier, hotter school year. Some of the classrooms in the older parts of the school can turn into ovens. Given our dress code, staying cool will likely be an issue.

Heat not only brings up a dress code issue, but also effects student education. Heat exhaustion can cause students to be unfocused and tired, not learning anything. Being too hot usually ends in dehydration which causes the brain to work twice as hard as normal and less efficiently. This could cause issues with maintaining focus in class. The district needs to air condition buildings as soon as possible.