Changes are always occurring at FHS, and this year is no exception. Students can now take online courses that are not offered within the building, Senior Seminar was added to the curriculum and taking chemistry or physics is now a graduation requirement. As is often the case with any change, complaints were heard far and near from the student body. So while the school begins to ponder future curriculum changes, perhaps the student voice could offer valuable suggestions. Seneca Valley students are now offered a ballet class, taught by a professional dancer. Sewickley Academy provides a wide range of courses, including AP Computer Science, Italian and Improv Performing Arts. Due to recent budget cuts and the decreasing size of Freedom, options like this might seem out of reach. But what about adding an advanced course, such as genetics, or incorporating astronomy, yoga or criminal justice? By taking advantage of Freedom’s diverse and capable faculty, perhaps new courses could be created or old courses could be tweaked in order to give students a better educational experience. By using existing faculty to create, develop or modify courses, district spending would be kept to a minimum. The district spends thousands of dollars annually sending kids to cyber and charter schools. By offering more diverse courses, students would be encouraged to remain here, saving the school money in the long run. And by investing in students, not only is the district making a smart financial move, but succeeding in its mission of providing students with an education that will prepare them for life after high school. Freedom should also consider offering quarter or semester courses. If a particular student is only interested in painting within an art class, why not offer several separate art courses, one per nine weeks? One quarter could be art history, another sculpture, another watercolor painting and so on. Students could pick different aspects of already-existing courses. This expandable idea could even be applied to literature or computer applications. Changes take time, resources and effort, but if some of these suggestions prove to be possible, the district would be making a monumental step in the right direction. If Freedom wants to compete with surrounding districts and the threat of cyber and charter schools, now is the time to make a business-smart decision. This will secure a brighter future for not only the district, but the students as well.