Tick-Tock on the Clock

SBHS cut down the transition time. Here’s why…

Students+at+SBHS+attempt+to+get+to+their+classes+near+the+700+staircase+but+the+traffic+jam+prevents+them.

Ariela Brody

Students at SBHS attempt to get to their classes near the 700 staircase but the traffic jam prevents them.

Ayla Kayan, Editor

With the new modified time schedule, The Department of Florida Education has implemented new guidelines, all Florida schools are required to have 92 minutes of class time per class period. South Broward’s solution: cutting down the transition time.

“They’re super crowded and it makes it really hard to get to class in a timely manner,” said SBHS junior, Lily Wilson.

Currently, there are over 2,400 students attending South Broward High School in the 2022-2023 school year. During this school year, the transition time was cut from 10 to seven minutes. Even administration is noticing the traffic jams in the hallways.

“They’re busy, we have 2400 kids which is a growth for us,”  said 11th-grade Assistant Principal, Mr. Timothy Winburn, “We are used to about 2300 so even though 100 kids does not seem like a huge difference, it definitely does feel that way in the hallway.” 

Due to the state of Florida demanding the increase of seat time in classes to 92 minutes, administration had the option to cut down a couple of minutes off of the lunchtime period or extend the school day till 2:45 PM to ensure the 92 minutes of class time.

“I feel like they should make the transition times a bit longer and extend the school day to consider the people that are going from the 3rd floor 700 to 3rd floor 300,” said SBHS freshman, Tyrese Goldson.

For some students, transitioning in between classes is the only time they can use the restroom or buy snacks from the vending machines, to not miss instruction from teachers. Though, the overcrowded hallways and the relatively short transition times may not allow students to relieve themselves.

“It is lowkey more than enough time to just get to your classes,” said Wilson, “But, not enough to use the bathroom.”

Administration of SBHS understands the struggle that students have getting to their classes. They attempted to go through the traffic of the hallways to put themselves into a student’s perspective.

“Personally, I have tried it myself because we heard the complaints from the kids at the beginning of the year and my old self was able to get there,” said Winburn, “Now, I did not stop and take time to talk to people, but I wanted to give it an honest run and say okay, let me try to get from 3rd floor 300 to 3rd floor 700 and I was able to do it.”

Every student has experienced difficulty getting to their classes at some point, but administration is always there to help and find a solution.

“Be ready when the bell rings, definitely you can talk to administration as well because we can tell you which stairwell, which hallways tend to be more crowded, which ways to go,” said Winburn.