By: Johnny Archer

It's a new school year, new classes, new teachers, and for Idaho Falls District 91 there are some new ideas that are going to affect the student's schedule. The school district is working on implementing a trimester system that will increase from five classes a day to six, each class being 60 minutes long.

The district is changing their schedule to keep up with new state graduation requirements. The change is not expected to go into affect until the fall of 2010.

But board members are currently in the process of deciding whether they will pass the new trimester schedule.

There are many concerns some parents have about the change in scheduling. One being an issue of keeping students focused the entire 60 minute period.

The District 91 superintendent says, that will depend on the teachers and their lesson plans.

"I think that teachers certainly have a large role in the structural design they use in keeping students engaged," says Superintendent George Boland. "Certainly sitting listening to a lecture for 45 minutes is difficult for anyone to stay engaged for that period of time."

Board members are encouraging District 91 parents to attend the next three public meetings in September to share their thoughts. The meetings will be held:

            7 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 16, Eagle Rock Junior High

            7 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 23, Clair E. Gale Junior High

            7 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 29, Taylorview junior High School