By Ben Allen

Correction: As soon as the problem was brought to the awareness of the PTA, they immediately offered to purchase agendas for upperclassmen.

Photo by Jack Fischer (Agenda courtesy of Jacob Cooper)

The biggest shock of the first day of school was not new classes or new teachers, but the fact that there were no agendas for sophomores, juniors and seniors. After years in middle school being told that the agenda book was an important part of success during the school year, the question most students asked was, “Where are the agendas?” I set out to find out what happened.

“The school district has been working harder to keep major programs running. With fewer resources and less people, it has been difficult to do. We are fortunate to have a great faculty, who work hard to keep the classes running smoothly with fewer resources,” said Principal James Kaishian. So where does that leave the agenda books?  I asked him what happened to them. It turns out that the budget committee forgot to include the agendas in the annual budget, which is prepared in January of the previous year. The priority of the committee was keeping teachers in classrooms and to save money in the guidance department. Therefore, the agendas this year were unfortunately overlooked because of higher priorities. Fortunately, after three long weeks of missed assignments and lost homework, agendas were given to all students of Briarcliff High School through funding by the PTA.