A snaking line outside the attendance window, a stream of cars exiting the parking lots, and enough “doctors appointments” to overwhelm Leah Orren all have one thing in common: FLEX.
In 2022, Liberty introduced the new 7 period schedule, and with that came a new system of FLEX and Homeroom. As the 2023-2024 school year rolled around, changes emerged. Homeroom has been rebranded to Advisory, which can also be used as a FLEX period when there isn’t a set lesson. Other changes included, a new sign up system for FLEX, and attendance mandates. These alterations have raised differing opinions among students, and more specifically, in Liberty’s Journalism class.
One of the more positively received changes has been the increase in FLEX days now that Tuesdays are no longer only for Advisory.
“I am glad we have more time to work now rather than just sitting and listening to presentations about topics that feel redundant and poorly done,” one Patriot Press student said.
More time to meet with teachers and make up quizzes and tests has also been appreciated by those who are busy with extracurriculars.
“I often have to head straight to practice after school and FLEX is my only time to make up any work or assessments I have missed,” another Patriot Press student said.
However, many students have also issued complaints, especially around the new sign up system, Student Support Time.
There have been multiple complaints with the new system, ranging from an inability to sign up for certain teachers, to the odd locking that occurs where a student will get stuck in a teacher’s FLEX.
“I needed to go to Mrs. Munson’s room for FLEX, but I was already in Mrs. Cooke’s FLEX and couldn’t change it. I even tried going to the office, but they told me there was nothing they could do,” Patriot Press senior Rilee Pham said.
While last year’s sign up system provided the students with the ability to sign up for any teacher, this year’s shows a limited number of teachers. Sometimes, the teachers a student has won’t show up, making it difficult to get into the correct FLEX period.
“I always need to sign up for Kruzich to retake quizzes, but she is never an option for me. Instead I see the ROTC teachers and Dr. B. While I’m sure they are lovely, I don’t even have them as teachers and have no need to go to their class,” one senior Patriot Press student said.
The most controversial change has been the new attendance policy for FLEX. This change was proposed as an attempt to halt the outpour of students leaving after 6th period on Wednesdays. Now when FLEX is missed, an email is sent to the parents of the student, which hasn’t been a fan favorite.
“My parents know that I am going to miss FLEX. I always text them in advance, so another email clogging their mail is just overkill,” one Patriot Press student said.
The new attendance policy isn’t the only part of FLEX that students find unnecessary.
“I have work on Wednesdays at 3:45pm and for me, it is more valuable to be at work than to be sitting in FLEX,” Patriot Press senior Mirabelle Williams said.
This disdain for FLEX is also common within running start students who may only spend one period at Liberty, and yet, are expected to attend FLEX.
“I don’t see why I should need to stay at Liberty for an extra 45 minutes when I am already busy with coursework for Bellevue College,” one running start Patriot Press student said.
Other students who don’t have these responsibilities still find little point in going to FLEX.
“I am much more productive at home. No matter what FLEX I go to, it is always loud, which makes it incredibly difficult for me to focus. I find it more stressful than useful,” a junior Patriot Press student said.
While some students have found the upsides in this year’s changes to FLEX and Advisory, the general opinion is overwhelmingly negative. At least for Liberty’s Journalism class, discontent for this system will be continuing for another year.
