The Gloucester High School faculty would like to move their classes back to a four-by-four schedule, GHS Principal Nate Collins told the Gloucester School Board last Thursday at the Walker Education Center. The change would have funding implications.

Former GHS teacher Warren Zuger told the board that GHS had a four-by-four schedule for several years before switching to a seven-block alternating day schedule in 2009 due to budget constraints.

“Staff went along with it because they thought it was temporary,” Warren said of the change. He said the move back to eight blocks, and a 180-day calendar, “would benefit students at all of our schools.”

Under the current schedule, students have one 50-minute class that meets daily. The rest of the day holds three additional classes with each one lasting one hour and 40 minutes. These longer classes are held every other day on an alternating schedule so most students have seven classes each semester. 

With the four...