A committee of district employees, students and parents is proposing changes in the calendar for Coronado public schools, aimed at addressing final exams scheduling for high school students, but concerns about heat-day events prevail.
At the Feb. 20 school board meeting, committee members urged CUSD trustees to consider starting classes for the 2025-26 year on Aug. 18 – four days earlier than the opening day this year. Under the proposal, school would end June 4, in 2026, compared to the final day on June 12 this year.
Changes to the calendar were born from district negotiations with the Association of Coronado Teachers, and from high school students concerned about finals schedules and the toll it had on their mental health over winter break.
The suggested changes drew mixed reviews from teachers who specifically opposed starting school on a Monday and reiterated concerns about heat temperatures and safety inside classrooms during the beginning of the school year.
Changes to the calendar for a second following school year would move the start of school to Aug. 10, eventually moving the end of term 1 to before winter break. This year, CHS finals week during the first term is scheduled to happen after winter break.
“I have a younger brother, he’s in sixth grade right now, and if I can do something right now that’s gonna make his four winter breaks in CUSD less stressful then I’m going to be okay with that,” said Sean Wilbur, a high school junior who served on the committee.
Later in the meeting, the board approved revised “Heat Day Release Guidelines” for the district to declare shorter school days during high heat temperatures.
The new protocols allow the superintendent to declare a heat day release using the heat index (air temperature and relative humidity) as reported on the National Weather Service (NOAA) website.
Trustees approved to lower the threshold from 90 degrees to 87 degrees, changed the family notification requirement from 7 a.m. the day of a declaration to 7 p.m. the evening prior, and made other revisions to the guidelines.
“With this new administrative regulation, once the determination is made at 7 p.m. whether the temperature increases or decreases, the decision has been made,” said Mueller.
In other matters
- The board approved comprehensive safety plans for all district school sites.
- The board voted for Jane Lea Smith (San Dieguito Union High School District) and Zenaida Rosario (San Ysidro Elementary School District) to serve on the 2025 California School Boards Association Delegate Assembly.
- Mueller announced bike safety rodeos this year, cosponsored by the school district and Coronado Police Department, will include guidance on e-bike safety.
The next regular board meeting is set for 4 p.m. on Thursday, March 13 at the district office.
