1. Effectively Implementing Flex Block at Patrick Henry Farley Allen
PBL 509
Effectively Implementing Flex Block at Patrick Henry
Farley Allen

2. Background
For over 15 years PH has operated on a 7-8 block/day schedule, with a minute study block.
We serve a large district, with some students commuting over an hour by bus to and from school.
Study block was put in place as a time for club meetings, make up work, remediation, homework, grade level assemblies, etc.

3. Challenges
20-30 minutes was not enough time to conduct effective, meaningful remediation or make up certain things such as tests.
Unproductive use of time
Students wandering halls, thus creating a supervision/safety issue
Conflict
Ineffective use of instructional time
Guidelines that were not uniformly enforced by teachers or administrators

4. Attempted Solutions - Past
Change name from Activity Block to Study Block
Reading Wednesday
Study Block Syllabus signed by parents
Agreed Norms by faculty

5. Changes in
Took information from faculty surveys and changed the schedule to a Flex Block that meets Tuesdays and Fridays for 40 minutes rather than every day.
Students are grouped alphabetically, by grade level
Most teachers have a Flex Block to supervise, but several teachers have been given hall duties during this time to ensure safety and supervision in the halls and common areas during this time.

6. My role Overall student supervision
Assisted with Safety Drills - During Intruder Drills, I supervised students traveling to and from the Trade School and Hanover High. I educated them on what to do in that situation if there was an intruder/active shooter in our building at that particular time. Following the drill, I debriefed with the Admin Team, Hanover Sheriff’s Office, and Hanover Director of School Safety.
Assisted with the planning and implementation of a school-wide day of programming that covered a lesson from our Counseling Center, PBIS, Technology, and team building.
Developed a Flex Pass to improve communication between teachers and students on a student’s whereabouts during Flex and to better track students in the hallways
Addressed faculty to reiterate Flex Block expectations agreed on at the beginning of the year. Also, rolled out the new Flex Block pass and policy to faculty.

7. Flex Pass

8. PSAT Programming/Schedule

10. Benefits Less unauthorized traffic in the halls.
More student supervision
Built in time for assemblies and pep rallies without disrupting instruction
Easier to pull students for grade level activities
More time to complete lengthy assignments and remediation.
Less unstructured, unproductive time

11. Drawbacks
Electives and clubs that used the everyday study block model to get work done have seen their time cut in half.
Students who participate in sports or don’t have rides have a hard time being involved in clubs such as DECA.
Students are having to choose certain activities/clubs over others because there are only 2 possible meeting days. Activities overlap. (ex. ROTC v. remediation)
If an assembly or pep rally takes place, student are left with only 1 block in the week to receive remediation, complete work, or attend a club.

12. The Future... Flex is a work in progress Learning experience:
Setting clear expectations to staff
Evaluating the effectiveness - continuing the conversations on how to improve the time
Making adjustments as needed - with the Flex Pass
Building the ship while flying it
Making decision that support instructional practices, student learning, and safety come first.