Since most Middletown High School students started using agendas school in elementary school, teachers have stressed their importance for both organizational purposes and safety. This year, however, MHS has decided that hall passes are a more affordable and practical substitute.
The hall pass is a sheet of glossy white plastic with an orange and black “M” for Middletown High School. “Knight Hall Pass” is printed on it in dark grey lettering. It dangles loosely on a clip connected to a lanyard. This agenda replacement was put together by MHS assistant principal Brooke Hontz.
Schools are always looking to expand their budget and have a steady flow of money at their disposal, and MHS is no exception.
“The main reason was budgetary”, said Bittner. The school can save hundreds of dollars by not handing out free agendas, money that will go to other areas of the school that could be improved.
“Maybe we can get a couple more chromebooks,” said Bittner, “and put some banners up for school beautification,” he added.
MHS social studies teacher Sean Haardt said, “Agendas are very expensive, MHS is trying to save money in any way that they can.”
The design was made with sanitation in mind. The agenda booklet was being carried from class to the bathroom. With the hall passes, you can put them around their neck or slide them into their pocket.
The change from agenda to hall pass was very minor, but also unexpected. MHS students weighed in their opinions about the hall pass.
MHS sophomore Clay Cunningham said the two are “the same thing and agendas just more of a hassle.”
Before hall passes, students needed a teacher signature at the bottom of their agendas in order to leave the classroom.
In 2015, students will just grab the hall pass after asking permission. But, similar to the original process, they must sign out on the sheet presented at the door before they leave.
MHS sophomore Collin Hanson said that the hall passes were a good idea so that teachers and administration at MHS could easily see if students were wandering the halls or legitimately leaving the classroom.
Agendas were a way for students to keep organized with hefty amounts of homework; for those who still want the booklet, they are for sale up at the MHS front office.
If MHS students chose not to purchase an agenda, they can ‘keep up with life’ with an online calendar since Middletown has as of late been pushing the B.Y.O.D (bring your own device) plan to start moving education online. This process includes incorporating electronic devices because it makes sense that organization goes online as well.
Bittner says, “The day of the agenda in 2015 has worked its way out.” He also said that multiple schools around the county have transitioned away from agenda booklets.
The hall pass has taken over for the agenda at MHS and it seems that it will stay just as long as the agenda did, if not longer.
