Starting today, a new testing center was made available to students to make up major assessments if they were missing from class.

Students must receive a referral to the testing center from a teacher in order to use it. Teachers get the option to refer their students to the testing center to take an assessment they missed while they were absent from class. Administrators have placed the center in the LGI, and it will be available Mondays through Thursdays from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. In order to sign up for the service, testers must scan the QR code in their teacher’s classroom.

“The testing center is a great resource for student-athletes like me,” tennis player and senior Rujula Padala said. “It allows us to keep up with our academics, even when we have to miss class for sports events. Having a dedicated time to make up tests helps reduce stress and ensures we don’t fall behind in our classes.”

Assistant Principal Jonathan Nash said the center will provide new benefits for students, as well as teachers.

“The testing center is designed to benefit the teachers by alleviating a task that would force them to split their focus and attention from providing instruction and intervention to the rest of the class,” Nash said. “By having students take these missed tests in the testing center, teachers can use class time for instruction and tutorials for intervention as originally intended.”

Anatomy and Physiology teacher Darilyn Krempin said the testing center provides more availability for students to make up tests.

“I think the testing center is going to be a great way for students to make up tests,” Krempin said. “It will provide more days and times for makeups and be a huge help for teachers to ensure their students have an opportunity to get it done.”

Students must be checked in and ready to take their test by 4:30 p.m. Students will check in with the testing proctor by using their school issued ID or driver’s license.

“If students are not in the LGI by 4:30, they will not be able to take their test on that day,” Nash said. “Students will leave their backpacks and phones at the front of the room while they are taking their test.”

AP Precalculus and AP AB Calculus teacher Thomas Gomez said he has concerns about the security of the test taking.

“It could compromise the integrity of the test and possibly allow room for cheating,” Gomez said. “I’m just a little worried about the assurance of the integrity of the test remaining intact and that other people start all of a sudden getting access to the test.”

Gomez said he can’t guarantee that the test security will be “100 percent.”

“I would prefer them to take my test so that it’s more of a secure test in my presence because I don’t know how many people are going to be there (at the testing center) at any given time,” Gomez said. “I still like the idea that the premise is for them not to miss class, but I’d rather them come in after school for me.”

The school arranged for a bus to be provided after the test for students who normally ride the bus home. While the testing center benefits teachers, it also aims to benefit the students academically.

“The testing center’s primary objective is to keep students in class as much as possible,” Nash said. “By having a designated time and place for absent students to take their tests that they missed, they are no longer being sent to the hallway or other locations to take a test while the rest of the class continues on with instruction.”

Sophomore Sahaana Vijayakumar said she can see how the testing center will help with health related absences and the bus system will come in handy.

“I do get sick pretty often,” Vijayakumar said. “If I miss a day because I’m sick, it will help me. Sometimes my parents won’t pick me up because I’m doing work and stuff, so I don’t have a ride home. The bussing system will definitely help me.”

Krempkin said this will be beneficial to her schedule after school hours.

“Sometimes my before and after school schedule does not match up with my students’ schedules,” Krempin said. “So, the testing center will help tremendously in providing a place for them to go when we can’t find a time that works for us to get together.”

Nash said that with the addition of the testing center, they hope to reduce the amount of tasks for teachers that could cause an obstacle for them to provide the highest level of instruction and intervention possible.

“Students will be able to remain in the learning environment instead of using valuable class time and tutorial time to take these missed exams,” Nash said. “We anticipate this leading to higher levels of teacher and student success.”