By Borislava Panayotova

With the new school year in full swing, there have been many changes happening to the Tempe Prep Board.

   At the Sept. 12 meeting, the board discussed the enrollment numbers for the year with Dr. Porter noting a drop in the size of the senior class. TPA usually sees an average of 53 students graduating each year, but this year’s graduating class has 47 students. The current sophomore and junior classes are also smaller. 

   A drop in students as they advance is not outside of the norm but the numbers this year are smaller than the usual. Dr. Porter says, “We are working on it. It is something we are addressing.”

   The board also discussed a change in a problem TPA was handling last year. After a year of multiple incidents at the Southern and Dorsey traffic light, the city of Tempe changed the timing of the light at the school’s request to improve the safety of the intersection. 

   Mr. Weiss, the faculty representative for the board and the teacher on duty at the light in the morning, said, “The walk sign turns on and there’s a five-second delay before the lights go green for the cars.” He also added that this gives students the opportunity to get halfway across the street before any car can go. 

   The board welcomed two new members, Ryan Johnson and Melissa Delaney, after losing members to retirement and a change in involvement.