NAMPA, Idaho — This article originally appeared in The Idaho Press.
On Jan. 26, the Nampa School District announced that its high schools will operate under a new schedule after over two decades with an A/B block schedule. This decision has come after feedback from a hesitant community and was seemingly abrupt.
“It wasn’t done in a vacuum, but it is a decision that’s made by the superintendent’s administrative team,” Kathleen Tuck, NSD director of communications, said.
“They’ve talked about this quite a bit with principals and a lot of folks across the district.”
NSD Superintendent Greg Russell decided on the schedule change with advisement from his administrative team, Tuck said. This included program directors for the district.
School board members and principals have been a part of discussions but were not a part of this team.
The schedule change was also discussed at a school board meeting before the final decision was made to move from four-period days on a semester calendar to six periods a day and a trimester calendar.
The schedule change is yet another cost-saving measure that will go into effect the next academic year, following the district’s December decision to close four schools.
The trimesters with six daily periods were chosen in part due to the length of the classes.
“Going from four classes a day with those longer periods, what we don’t want to do is overburden our teachers,” Tuck said. “And we certainly don’t want students to feel like, especially with trimesters, that they don’t have enough time to be able to learn the material.”
The six-period schedule will consist of 70-75-minute classes, shorter than the current blocks of 77-82 minutes.
The main cost-saving effect of the schedule change will come in the form of teaching hours. The switch will save the district money with 20 fewer full-time teaching positions.
The distinct estimates an average saving of $75,000 per position, also accounting for benefits. In total, the district should save $1.5 million annually from the schedule change, removing 20 teachers from the district.
While students have spoken out against the change at board meetings, Tuck said not all students’ responses have been negative.
With the switch to six periods over three trimesters, students can take 18 courses in an academic year. On the block schedule students normally would take 16.
“Change is always something that makes people uncomfortable, but … there’s a lot of positives that come out of this for students,” Tuck said. “And that really took (the administrative team) a lot of data and a lot of people’s concerns into consideration in making the decision.”
A survey completed by 2,780 students, parents and staff guided part of the administration’s decisions. Feedback included multiple-choice questions about different annual schedules and class lengths.
Aligned with the district’s decision, six-period days received the most support — with 44% — over seven-period days, which garnered 38% support. However, keeping the current block schedule was not included as an option.
A response section on the survey also allowed written feedback from the community.
“I am deeply opposed to this change from the block schedule. The benefits of longer class periods has been significant for my children,” a parent wrote. “Find another way to save money. Taking away academic time to save money is not the answer.”
As for the annual schedule, 45% supported having semesters, 34% supported quarters, and trimesters received the least support with 20%.
While the survey did not include any mentions of the current A/B block schedule, many respondents shared favorable opinions on it in a feedback portion.
“The current block schedule is fantastic when teachers know how to teach to it,” a district staff member wrote. “I would REALLY support keeping the block, even if it means I teach an extra period. That would have less disruptions with transferring students. I think it is a BIG mistake to move away from this schedule!!”
CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION
A concern several students expressed was being able to continue their Career and Technical Education courses. Classes include cosmetology, auto body work and culinary skills — a range of hands-on career paths.
Nampa’s CTE program offers 28 different pathways and has over 400 students enrolled from the three district high schools. Different courses are held at different schools, with students busing between classes.
“Having shorter blocks is frustrating when it comes to working on projects,” a student wrote. “I feel like instead of figuring out ways to save money, maybe listen to your students and see what their preference is to help benefit their future. Please take this into account when making a decision.”
Other students enrolled in CTE classes expressed similar concerns in the survey. One student felt that the shortened class periods would make it difficult to participate in their auto body program.
Another student expressed that the schedule would hinder pathway students’ abilities to graduate with medical certifications that help them become dental assistants or emergency medical technicians.
Cindy Arnzen is the director of the Idaho Center for Advanced Technology, Nampa’s CTE programs. Considering daily schedules, Arnzen said that those starting out in ICAT tend to have classes that last for a single block, approximately 82 minutes. For juniors and up, classes may take two blocks, lasting over two hours.
With busing accounted for, Arnzen believes that students will be able to continue commuting. While students may lose time due to the shorter periods, Arnzen noted that classes will just be 10 minutes shorter and students will be in class more often.
“I don’t think any 10 minutes to me, as a teacher, is that much different,” Arnzen said.
Rather than being detrimental, Arnzen sees the trimester schedule as a potential positive for CTE students. By meeting daily, rather than every other day, Arnzen said the consistency will help students and teachers get work done.
“Every day, you will see those kids, which is a positive,” she said.
With trimesters, ICAT will be able to provide students with more flexibility to experiment. Rather than being stuck in a class for a full semester, students will be able to switch at the trimester.
As for the program’s staff, Arnzen said they have been largely receptive of the upcoming change.
“I think they’re excited to maybe provide more opportunities for the kids,” she said.
With student survey responses expressing concerns about receiving certifications in now-shortened classes, Arnzen assured that these opportunities, while structured differently, will remain.
“That is the first priority,” Arnzen said.
LOOKING FORWARD
Few Idaho school districts utilize trimester schedules. According to Tuck, there aren’t any trimester schedules in the Treasure Valley districts.
While Nampa’s 2024-2025 calendar remains uncertain, the Pocatello/Chubbuck School District and the Bonneville Joint School District, both located in Eastern Idaho, run on trimesters with the following schedules.
Pocatello/Chubbuck School District 2024-2025
- First trimester: Aug. 21-Nov. 14
- Second trimester: Nov. 18-Feb. 28, includes Thanksgiving and winter breaks.
- Third trimester: March 3-May 29, includes spring break.
Bonneville Joint School District 2024-2025
- First trimester: Sept. 1-Nov. 20
- (Thanksgiving and winter breaks fall in between)
- Second trimester: Jan. 4-March 5
- Third trimester: March 9-June 3, includes spring break.
Tuck said the district is still to determine what the annual schedule will look like.
The district has also discussed the potential of moving to a four-day academic week, largely to appeal to instructor retainment and recruitment. This may be discussed further at the next Nampa School Board meeting.
“Students don’t like change, so I think that’s the problem,” Arnzen said about students’ objections to the schedule change. “They don’t know what is ahead of them and they don’t know what it’s going to look like next year.”
This article originally appeared in the Idaho Press, read more on IdahoPress.com.
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