As a junior at Central High School, I find it bittersweet to be a member of the last graduating class. It will be hard for students in my grade to spend their senior year in a transition phase.
But this needs to happen sometime.
My senior year, Denfeld will be coming over to Central, and some Central students will go to East. This will be the first and most difficult year of transitioning to two schools.
People don't like change, and combining students from schools with their own identities and rivalries will have its problems. There are so many stereotypes out there that it will take awhile to realize how alike we actually are.
Moving to two schools allows for more academic opportunities, but poses many other issues. Figuring out sports teams for next year has caused more frustration than any other topic. Playing your senior year with new people and new colors isn't the most fun. But having two teams in one building isn't a good idea because of inter-school rivalry and a limited number of games. However, having only one team, with more players, worries athletes. They wonder how much they'll get to play. It also makes sense that during the next transition year, new jerseys will not be purchased. That means we need to figure out another option.
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Also, deciding mascots and colors has proven a challenge for all because students take pride in their schools. I don't know how we will be able to combine school colors and names, but two years from now, when students move to permanent buildings, permanent mascots and colors will have to be chosen.
The most frustrating thing is that the Duluth School Board hasn't made many decisions about these issues. Finding out decisions now versus the fall of next year would alleviate some stress and give us students time to fume and to accept even if the decisions don't make everyone happy.
It was explained to my class by Superintendent Keith Dixon that teachers will be moved around starting next fall. All the teachers from both high schools and middle schools will be put into a pool and, in order of seniority, will get to choose their schools. The teachers would then move with students to permanent buildings the following year.
This option of picking by seniority isn't the best option and will upset a lot of people. A really good high school teacher low on the chain might get stuck at a middle school, leaving their high school students with a teacher who may not be as fit for the job. Getting new teachers isn't a bad thing, but even if students don't admit it, they connect with their teachers. It would be hard not see familiar names on our schedules next year.
Five to 10 years from now, when students start as freshmen at Duluth's eastern and western high schools, we won't have these issues. Although people are happy to point out the flaws of having two high schools, having three is not working. When I come back to Duluth for the final Central class reunion, I hope to witness two high schools that have new traditions, better sports teams and facilities, and more academic opportunities.
TRICIA CORREIA is a junior at Duluth Central High School.
