Principal Tim Phares sits in his office. Phares said revisions to Minga and upcoming changes to facilities and diploma requirements are based on feedback and student trends.

Administration uses feedback and trends in planning and revision

Carmel High School’s newest initiatives, including the Minga pass system, have gone through revisions based on feedback. “There is no doubt there are a lot of positives for that,” Principal Dr. Phares said. “We have had to kind of make some tweaks and changes and a lot of those tweaks and changes come within our own staff. Just making sure that everybody is on the same page as we’re issuing and receiving and dismissing kids from classes.”

Additionally, congestion issues with long lines at kiosks were alleviated by adding a kiosk at Door 2 and having administrators check students out with their phones. “That feedback from students has been very, very positive,” Phares said.

Facility updates have also reflected student needs. “Our students have gotten into our new automotive, construction and engineering technology spaces, although they’re still not done,” Phares said. The CNA classroom is one example. “The room is beautiful. It’s much more practical. Before, this room was crammed in and not a practical space for kids to be able to access those classes and those programs.”

Those shifts are connected to budget decisions. “Engineering technology is growing. Our biomedical sciences and exercise science programs are also expanding,” Phares said. “When students show more interest in those courses, it helps us plan where resources go.”

Looking ahead, Phares said new diploma requirements are shaping next year’s planning. “We will always offer it in person, always,” he said. “But we also have students that say, I’d like to take this online because it allows me to open another course block—whether that’s an AP, whether it’s a passion, whether it’s of interest.”

Senior Anjali Prasad said that changing diploma requirements has both advantages and disadvantages. “Allowing students to take more of the required courses would allow them to take classes they were actually interested in during the school day,” she said. “But I think this could also create this culture where all the required classes are just busywork because they’re online, and as a result (students) might not learn all the required content.”