Semester system

I just finished reading your editorial, "Too much rides on changing APHS semester system," and I am frankly dumbfounded.
Admittedly, I have ties with the school system, with my wife, daughter, sister, niece, nephew and other in-laws all working for the Highlands County School Board, but strictly speaking, from an outsider's perspective, your column makes no sense.
You state that this proposal is "too fast, too desperate and too much is on the line concerning the school's accountability grade." Then you go on to report that APHS has had eight consecutive years of "D" grades. It sounds to me like this proposal is too late and just about desperate enough because there is so much on the line concerning the school's accountability grade.
Your solution is for Avon Park "to do its best to improve that grade as the district continues to look for answers." That means keep doing the same thing. You are correct that we face "difficult local demographics," this is true for the entire county.
Sebring and Lake Placid High schools also had "D" grades last year; this is not a problem that will be solved by "just doing your best;" it is going to take some drastic and maybe desperate measures.
I personally applaud the staff at APHS for initiating this proposal. 82 percent of them are behind it because they are tired of the status quo. They want to make a difference in their school and in our students' lives.
I also applaud the school board for doing the prudent work of weighing the pros and cons of a new initiative. Yes, APHS could drop to an "F" grade, but what better answer to have for the state than to be able to say that we are considering every option available.
Eric R. Longshore
Avon Park