“Saved by the Bell,” a popular 90s television show, would not have been quite the same show if it were set at Clinton Rosette Middle School, 650 N. First St.

CRMS eliminated the use of bells between class periods to keep up with changing times and different class schedules.

The school uses only two bells throughout the day- one warning bell in the morning and the other at 2:30 p.m. at the end of the day, Principal Sheila Conrad said.

“It’s a middle school concept that’s been developed over the years by many people,” said Roger Christensen, eighth grade science teacher. “It’s a nationwide trend.”

Christensen said this system was adopted because each grade has different schedules.

“Sixth grade doesn’t have periods as long as the upper classes, and they have nine periods instead of eight,” Christensen said.

“[The no bells system] is great,” he said. “We’ve pretty much got it down.”

Conrad said the teachers keep an eye on the clock and the students know the schedule, too.

“On days when we have different scheduling for testing or for an assembly, we don’t have to worry about bells going off,” she said.

Christensen pointed out he did not have to worry about a bell if he needed an extra minute or two.

“We can flex our schedule because we team teach. If it’s a half day, we still get to meet all of our core classes, just not as long.”

Louisa McCarthy, PTA member and treasurer, said her children did not have a problem with the new system.

“I don’t even know if they can tell the difference.”

McCarthy said the classes are close together and the students have four minutes to go from one place to another.

Eighth grader Zach Dean said the students had become familiar with the new system.

“It was confusing at first because people thought the bells were going to go off but then they wouldn’t,” Dean said. “But then they got used to it.”