Principal Peter Kuhns says Village Elementary School is focusing on three goals this year: progress on student achievement, communication with the school community and maintaining a safe and supportive environment.
During an annual school report Nov. 14, Kuhns told the board three teams meet monthly to set academic, cultural and leadership goals.
“Everything that we choose to embark on, we always make sure that it’s connected with our Portrait of a Graduate and how we’re going to best support students as they continue (their) time with us in Coronado Unified School District,” said Kuhns.
Kuhns said the student enrollment at Village Elementary School has declined significantly in the last school year from 822 to 759.
“The decline in enrollment will also result in a decline in certificated staff,” said Kuhns. “We want to make sure that we maintain those ratios for our teachers.”
According to a district report, enrollment across the kindergarten, second, third, fourth and fifth grades decreased in the past year.
Meanwhile, transitional kindergarten grew from 50 students in the 2024-25 school year to 74 students in the 2025-26 school year.
“Our transitional kindergarten enrollment, compared to last year, has gone up significantly resulting in not only a third classroom but also a TK-K combo class,” said Kuhns.
The report shows first grade at Village Elementary also saw an increase from 106 to 124 students enrolled.
According to Jennifer Landry, president of the teachers association in Coronado, this year transitional kindergarten classes are capped at 24 students and must have three adults in them if there are more than 20 students enrolled per class.
“The student-to-teacher ratio is not based upon who is present in the class that day, but who is enrolled in the class,” Landry told the board in a separate report highlighting transitional kindergarten at two CUSD elementary schools. “If a student requires a one-on-one aide, that adult is not part of the ratio. And so those ratios must be maintained during any minute that is counted as part of the instructional day.”
Kuhns said classified staff increased due to the growth in transitional kindergarten.
“We want to make sure that students have that level of support that they need to make sure that they move throughout the day successfully,” said Kuhns.
Kuhns said English language arts and mathematics state assessments are strengths for Village Elementary School students.
“One of the things we’re working on now is for students themselves to really take a look at their own academic achievement and start to engage in the goal-setting process and the work that it takes to achieve those goals,” said Kuhns.
According to Kuhns, one-quarter of students in a program for English language development are not making yearly progress, so the teachers have aides who assist with targeted instruction.
Kuhns said 68-70% of students perform on grade level in English language arts and math standards. And approximately 20% of students receive specialized academic instruction or are English language learners.
“So there’s about a 10-12% gap that we’re working on closing,” said Kuhns.
Kuhns said the school is trying to address increases in chronic absenteeism and suspension rates. He said communication with families about the damages of chronic absenteeism has helped with monthly attendance, and Village Elementary is working on an alternative to suspensions.
Referring to increasing suspension rates, Kuhns said, “One of the reasons why this is a growth area is the students that are getting suspended more often than not have a disability.”
The elementary school’s decision to stop sending students to their parents everyday is because that practice does not change behavior, “it just results in more suspensions,” Kuhns said.
According to Kuhns, Village’s room 405 will serve as an intervention space as an alternative to suspension whose staffing will vary depending on the day, he said.
“We are trying to predict how that space is going to be staffed,” said Kuhns about the designated space at the Village Elementary School campus.
Funding concerns
Following her report, Landry encouraged the board to visit the transitional kindergarten classroom at Silver Strand Elementary School and classrooms at Village Elementary School.
Topics covered in these classrooms from August to October include learning to count to five, writing names independently and making art with watercolors, said Landry.
Landry said teachers are concerned about state funding for transitional kindergarten ending when CUSD transitions to basic aid, or when it becomes locally funded.
“We hope that during basic aid planning sessions you keep in mind just how important and meaningful (transitional kindergarten) is to the students, families and teachers involved, and do everything within your power to continue offering (transitional kindergarten) in the Coronado Unified School District,” said Landry.
Superintendent Karl Mueller said an assembly bill could provide transitional kindergarten funding for community funded or basic aid districts.
“Something for all of us to keep in mind as we talk to our legislatures and go up and advocate for Coronado Unified now that our funding model will change at the conclusion of next school year, we absolutely want to show our support for AB 1391,” Mueller told the board.
The next regular board meeting is set for 4 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 11 at the district office.
