“There is no wrong answer,” says English teacher Alison Lockheed, pacing the room. “That’s why I love this class.”

Around her, the click-clacking of busy typing sets the soundtrack for the creative writing credit-recovery class. Creative writing is one of the original after school classes, joined this semester by new credit recovery classes like Spanish and independent study English, which is the only class to be offered on Fridays.  

However, additional classes aren’t the only change for the credit recovery program this semester. In years past, there were both seventh and eighth period classes running all five days of the week after school. Beginning this semester, the credit recovery classes are now offered on Monday/Wednesday and Tuesday/Thursday schedules, with no eighth period classes. Seventh period classes will run from 2:20 to 4:20.

“The goal of the change was to give students more of a selection,” said head counselor Chan Sam. “Ideally, a student can make up 15 credits in a semester.”

But Lockheed says it’s not only about the credits. “We make it fun, memorable,” she said. “We make it worthwhile because no one wants to have to stay after school.”

And some of the seniors pushing to graduate have certainly been putting in the extra hours.
“I was (at school) from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.every day,” said senior Cynthia Mesa. “Even on short days.”

On her path to graduate, Mesa was enrolled in seventh and eighth periods last semester, in addition to two APEX classes and a community service class.

“I don’t sleep,” she joked.

Mesa joined the class a few weeks late but made up the work. However, there are some students who say they have similarly joined the class late and been given credits, without making up the work.  

“I have a quote for this, but it’s on a loose-leaf paper that I have at home, sorry.” An anonymous senior said.    

“That shouldn’t happen,” Sam said. “Teachers have to justify that the students completed all the work.”

Which students like Julian Nevarez have. Nevarez enrolled in the credit recovery classes late last semester but had help making up the work he missed. “There’s a lot of one-on-one interaction,” he said.

Whether or not the credit recovery restructuring will prove more effective than the old system remains to be seen. “It’s too early to tell,” Lockheed said. “But as far as I’m concerned, I’ll always be here for the kids, no matter what the change.”