A subcommittee tasked to review a controversial 4X4 bell schedule at Coronado High School told the Board of Trustees on May 18 that it should start the academic year sooner, provide training and support to faculty and empower parents to participate in the course selection and planning process.
Five volunteers and two non-voting Board members began collaborating in February and conducted over 60 hours of meetings, feedback sessions, public forums and survey preparation regarding the 90-minute blocks for classes.
Board Vice President Scot Youngblood said that the mission of the committee was to accurately distill and reflect the feedback from the community for the 4×4 and how well it’s working.
According to the report, Coronado demographics make it difficult to compare Coronado High School with other schools and districts because CHS is in a small district that’s half the size of other schools in San Diego County that offer a 4×4 block schedule.
Coronado also has a high military population, strong student participation in the CoSA arts program, and a strong participation in athletics.
480 parents respond to survey
The new bell schedule was implemented in fall 2021 to allow students to take up to eight classes per academic year instead of the traditional six. It has been met with pushback from parents, students and teachers and a board of four new members created a committee to examine the schedule.
As a result of inadequate multi-year test score data to assess student learning and academic achievement analysis, the committee focused on direct feedback from key stakeholders on the strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities for improving the current bell schedule.
The report said that 25 faculty, 20 parents, and 25 students attended in-person sessions, while 34 faculty, 480 parents, and 125 students provided survey responses.
There were a total of four surveys, including two for parents, with one specific to those of rising 9th graders.
Unique challenges
The committee also found the schedule has been difficult to implement and there have been unique challenges for certain academic departments and monitoring Advanced Placement science enrollment growth.
There also were questions whether the bell schedule proves CUSD’s mission to reach “every child, every day,” and mindfulness of increased stress and anxiety levels from the pace of the current bell schedule which may impact the mental health of students.
The committee also recognized the CHS faculty and leadership team for their dedication to implement the 4×4.
Kevin Ashley presented the committee’s findings, and committee members Roelof Roos, Stephanie Slaughter and Brian Trotier were present at the meeting.
Youngblood thanked the committee for its work and told the board the work accurately reflects “what the committee heard from the community.”
Ashley echoed Youngblood and reiterated that “our purpose was not to determine whether or not to keep the 4×4 bell schedule.”
CUSD Senior Director of Learning Megan Battle said that moving forward, CHS reports will include information regarding the existing schedule throughout various Learning Department reports.
Parents still concerned
However, aspects of the bell schedule remain a topic of discussion among CUSD parents, as was voiced during public comment following the committee’s presentation.
Community members said they were concerned about meeting state required instructional minutes, whether students are learning in the new bell schedule based on the report’s parent and educator survey responses, the increased amount of homework, and 90-minute long classes.
Jim Fabiszak said he believes that 59% of the high school’s student body are enrolled in less than eight classes per year and are receiving less than the 1,080 hours of state-required instructional time.
Regarding instructional minutes, Trustee Whitney Antrim has said she was satisfied and believes the school is meeting state requirements upon communication with district lawyers.
Jay Chesnut brought attention to a question in the parent survey regarding the 48% of parents who do not agree that the 4×4 block schedule has helped their child to better understand and retain the material being taught.
He compared it to the educators survey where 65% said students are not able to master the course content under the 4×4 schedule.
He encouraged the board to continue surveys.
Joseph Piepenkotter told the board that the amount of homework under the new bell schedule has increased dramatically, and said that another important aspect of high school is socialization.
Anne Sonne spoke about the time spent in classrooms and said that students are not getting as much time in the classroom in the 90-minute classes that extend beyond the teenage optimal attention span.
Youngblood shared that it was concerning that 42% of students said it is difficult getting classes they want, but encouraged everyone to “make this current schedule work as best as we can.”
Former educator’s legacy
Earlier in the evening, the board recognized the significant contributions and lasting impact of previous Coronado educator Brenda Kracht following her passing in April.
Superintendent Karl Mueller shared comments from the Kracht family and former colleagues that highlighted Kracht’s passion for education, leadership, and selflessness.
The board recognized the Kracht family, and presented them with flowers.
Teacher recognition
The board also recognized teachers of the year in the district for 2023.
School principals shared each staff member’s dedication to their school communities and congratulated them, presenting four awards.
New hires
CUSD Director of Human Resources Armando Farias presented the newest hires. Nestor Espinoza-Agraz will be Assistant Principal at Coronado Middle School and Peter Kuhns will be Principal at Village Elementary Schools.
Board and superintendent comments
Trustee Antrim said she will attend the first California School Boards Association (CSBA) Delegate Assembly regional meeting on May 19 in Sacramento.
Antrim was elected earlier this year and will represent CUSD and San Diego County at the state level.
The next Keeping Students Safe Online Committee meeting will be June 6, she said.
Cavanaugh shared about her in-person Office Hours happening twice a month, with updates posted to the district’s website.
Mueller said the Islander Awards for top students will take place on May 31, at the Hotel del Coronado. He added that Director of Student Services Niamh Foley will present the California Healthy Kids Survey data in June.
Mueller also noted that CUSD’s Public Information Officer Maria Simon and World Languages Teacher on Special Assignment Maylén Sullivan collaborated to bring about the first ever CUSD World Language Awards, which the district plans to make an annual celebration.
Other matters
In other matters:
- The board approved the Interdistrict Attendance Agreements for the following five school years, 2023-2024 through 2027-2028.
- Initial bargaining proposals of the District and the California School Employees’ Association (CSEA) Chapter 386 for the 2023-2026 Successor Contract were presented, set to open more than five articles.
- The Resolution (23-05-02) for the Coronado High School Library Renovation project without Competitive Bidding was approved.
- The board approved a new job description and salary to fill two Technology Resource Specialist 2 positions.
- The board approved the calendar for the 2023-2024 School Year, upon bargaining agreement with the ACT.
- The board adopted Resolution 23-05-01 that Approved the Joint Powers Authority Agreement for the district to join the Government Financial Services Joint Powers Authority, facilitating financial guidance.
- The board approved one educator’s early retirement program for the upcoming 2023-24 school year.
- The board approved the CUSD 2022 School Plans for Student Achievement from all four schools, with data pertaining to respective demographics.
- A special board meeting at 1 p.m. on May 31 will include a board self evaluation and a school safety operation report.
- The next regular board meeting will take place at district offices at 4 p.m. on June 8.
