Invite them in the weeks before school starts, and let them know what changes you are making. Make a three or four-year commitment to the block schedule. Some problems didn't even surface for us until midway through our third year. Others are probably still lurking around the corner. Grades, attendance rates and credits earned are important, but remember that they're only part of the picture.
Early graduation can pose problems.
Consider setting-up some restrictions or guidelines for those kids who earn credits rapidly enough to leave the school a semester early. The district policy for media coverage in your school may need to be reviewed and clarified with staff. It's an exciting time, but media people can come into a building with their own agendas. The wrong sort of coverage can damage a program while it's still vulnerable in its first year. Numbers must be heeded.