Principal Joann Karetov and counselor Kelsey Milne decided to postpone the Minnesota comprehensive assessments (MCAs) taken annually by sophomores and juniors to the week of April 21 following the tragedy surrounding the McManus family on April 9.

According to Milne, this change aimed to provide students with the best testing environment possible.

“There was a lot of things happening at the high school,” Milne said. “We want to be accommodating of students needs.”

Sophomore Daniel Takata said he thinks this change is in the best interest of students as they deal with this tragedy.

“I suppose it’s a good thing,” Takata said. “It’s hard for people to take a test when they’ve got things like this on their minds.”

In addition to postponing the test, it will now be taken completely online rather than on paper as in previous years.

According to Milne, the initial plan was for sophomores to take the paper version of the reading MCA, and for juniors to take the online version of the math MCA. In light of recent events, it was decided that both grades would take online versions of the assessment.

“We ultimately decided that the paper version doesn’t have much flexibility, students can’t start and stop (the test),” Milne said. “We hope that this will provide the best possible environment for students.”

Junior Mara Hathaway said she thinks it will negatively impact test scores.

“I don’t think this is a good change because I do better when I can write answers down in front of me,” Hathaway said.