The district’s most recent proposal concerning summer school that would restrict students from taking more than one class in a single department over the summer will benefit students by strengthening their knowledge of the core curriculum. However, if the plan is implemented, the district cannot restrict the number of zero period classes, as students must still have the ability to free their schedule for electives.
At the Manhattan Beach Unified School District workshop on Jan.14, the board proposed a plan to address summer school guidelines. This proposal restricts students from taking more than 10 units over the summer from one department throughout their high school career. Prior to the district’s proposal, MBUSD did not have a specific summer school structure, which incited the creation of this plan.
The board also began discussions with community members about limiting or eliminating zero period classes after the Medical Advisory Board raised concerns about students’ lack of sleep. Currently, Mira Costa offers 26 zero period classes. To counteract this, the board discussed pushing students’ schedules back later into the day by adding more classes during fifth and sixth period.
Currently, there is no restriction on the number of units students can take in each department over the summer. This is detrimental to students’ learning in a specific department as summer school offers 60 hours of educational instruction per semester as opposed to taking a course during the school year that offers 80 hours of instruction per semester.
When added up, if a student were to take four years of a subject over the summer, they would, in total, lose one entire year of instruction. Without the district’s newly proposed plan, students would not gain methodical exposure to all core subjects before graduating high school.
Because the board is restricting what classes students can take over the summer, it must provide additional course options for students to take in summer school. It should begin to offer additional elective classes over the summer to give students the opportunity to take alternative courses.
The district’s plan does not restrict students from taking summer school classes to free up their schedules for elective periods during the year; it would only restrict what subject areas students are taking these classes in. Students are able to take the same number of summer school classes throughout their four years, but their understanding of all subjects will be widened.
While this plan may not be feasible for all students, as some may not choose to take a different subject of summer school each year, according to MBUSD Board of Trustees Vice President Bill Fournell, it is the school’s responsibility to educate students fully in every subject matter.
For those students who choose to not take summer school, they still need the opportunity to take electives. Therefore, the board cannot limit the number of zero period classes offered as students still need the ability to free their schedule. The school should provide students with the opportunity to take these zero period classes if they wish in order to take additional electives.
According to MBUSD Board of Trustees member Jennifer Cochran, the district should look into how it can change the school schedule so students can accommodate all their classes without taking zero period or summer school. The district should explore options such as block schedule to provide options for all students.
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