As a result of testing, the library was closed from Feb. 24 to March 7. 

The JHS Library should not be consistently closed to cater to students testing. 

By utilizing the library for testing throughout the school day, it’s closed off to students, so an array of problems arise. Students who wish to print papers, conduct research or fix any computer issues are now forced to wait weeks before doing so. And the purpose of the library becomes null and void when students are unable to check out or check in books. Which only prolongs student issues, and may discourage them from entering the library again. 

Instead, the administration and school board should request to use the ROTC room or small gym at the beginning of the school year, or a year in advance before testing dates, as there isn’t an ROTC program active on campus and less students will be left conflicted. By requesting the rooms at the beginning of the year, any class displaced will also be able to plan their curriculum and new location ahead of time. 

While some may argue that placing testing students in the gyms will displace the gym students, this is a small cost for giving testing students a space where they will be less distracted and keeping common areas open to the student body. And gym students can still use other common areas around the school as sports like tennis, wrestling, and track have been known to use hallways or outside areas to conduct practices. 

And in order to ensure students meet their check-in deadlines, the school library should work to develop an exterior drop off station so students can bring their books in, by their due date, even if the library is closed.

Standardized testing is a vital aspect of school life but once it impacts the needs of students outside the testing pool, it becomes a problem.