Big changes to after school discipline

Brendan Sheehan l Associate Editor

A new spin on disciplinary action has a much more organized approach to the current system of Mandatory Academic Support, or MAS, as well as detention.

Starting in mid-September, a new schedule dividing MAS and detention after-school window has rearranged how and when students and proctors spend their time.

MAS will now only take place on Tuesdays from 2:45 – 4 p.m. every week, whereas detention will be held only on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. The new initiative strives to serve students independently with one-on-one instructive learning all in one place.

English, math, and science teachers attend MAS sessions to proctor and instruct students who are struggling within their respective subject.

MAS periods fall on Tuesdays, the same day as peer tutoring. With this new plan, students will be able to work with peer tutors within MAS to receive the most efficient and helpful resources.

“The new schedule should benefit students due to the team approach,” said principal Chris Groff, who manages and proctors MAS himself. “We’re able to take (this approach) by having teacher proctors, peer tutors and principals support our students only one night a week.”

While some may question the effectiveness or consequences of only offering MAS once a week, the initiative seems to have no real effect on those who are proctoring.

”I’ve only proctored MAS once in the new format, and it seemed to run smoothly,” said mathematics teacher and proctor Sarah Battistelli. “I don’t feel like splitting really offered any more to the student versus having everyone together.”

According to proctors, the new approach to detention has also minimally affected how detention operates in terms of students’ behavior and demeanor.

“Detention is still run the same way; however, I do like the new process of consequences for those who skip,” said proctor and woodshop teacher Jonathan Weitzel.

Students who skip detention will now receive a full day of ISS as well as a same-day detention, in order to discourage students from skipping their initial detention.

As MAS and detention take their separate ordinances, the new schedule is aiming to promote a system of support for students, according to Groff.

“MAS provides support for individual students,” said Groff. “Sometimes the support is tutoring on a particular skill, and sometimes MAS is a push to complete an important assignment.”