Imagine yourself as a Selma public school student.

You’ve just been out of the classroom for more than a week for Christmas or spring break. You have spent a minimum of seven days placing academics as far toward the back of your mind as possible.

That’s what these breaks are designed to accomplish. They allow students a chance to sit back, relax and enjoy being kids for a while. It’s a great time for the students to recharge their batteries, so to speak.

Now imagine after unwinding for seven days, you return to school and are almost immediately issued one of the most important tests of the year.

Odds are, students are not going to shift back into test mode right away after being out of school for an extended period of time.

The Selma City School Board recognizes this, and is ready to make a few changes of the calendar.

Changes in the spring break schedule to give students a chance to take the graduation exam while learning is still a top priority would be a great move for the students and the entire system. The chances are, with a change in scheduling, we will see increased scores.

This is good for the confidence of our students, it’s good for those who plan to pursue higher education, and it’s great for our system.

Higher scores can be the difference in making AYP, which everyone knows is crucial to the system’s pursuit of funding. It was pointed out during Tuesday’s work session that the board cannot determine when students will be tested, but it can determine when breaks will take place. Every year there are students who try hard, study and fall short on the exam. It makes sense to give them every advantage possible to pass the test, graduate, and move on to bigger and better things. Changes in the schedule will be good for the students and schools in the immediate future and could also have an impact on our city for years to come.