Students experience planbook delays for a second year

For the second year in a row, students did not receive planbooks during the first week of school.

Planbook distribution was originally scheduled for Sept. 2, according to assistant principal Patricia Hurley. However, due to administrative changes and planbook errors, the planbooks did not arrive on time.

Planbooks are currently expected to arrive on Tuesday, Sept. 7, and distribution is planned for Thursday, Sept. 9. The delay was partly attributed to the departure of former assistant principal Patricia Shetley, Hurley said. "Mrs. Shetley was working on [the planbooks] when she accepted the position of principal at a middle school in Prince George's County," Hurley explained. "The transition to a different school took some time."

When Shetley left, Hurley became responsible for correcting and submitting the planbooks. "When I proofed them, I found them with some errors, and I wasn't comfortable with how they were… I fixed them as fast as I could," she said. The turnaround time for receiving corrected planbooks back from the distributors is two weeks.

Despite the setback in planbook distribution, the ID process was expedited this year, as only new students and teachers were photographed for IDs. Returning students' IDs feature their yearbook pictures from last year. This change has helped to preserve instructional time, assistant principal Linda Wolf said. Unfortunately, most teachers have not yet received IDs, according to Wolf. IDs are typically distributed during English classes.

English teacher, Lucas Henry appreciates the administration's consideration. "While I can understand a student's frustration and wanting to have a fresh picture, it's really great to be in and out so fast," he said.

However, Henry regrets the absence of planbooks, which he finds useful. "I really think it helps my students keep themselves organized. I also like to use it for myself to keep track of classes, homework… I find myself disorganized without it."

More information to come.