An audience member holds up a sign during Tuesday's Santa Barbara school board meeting in support of a seven-period day at the district's junior high schools that would give all students access to electives, including wood shop.
An audience member holds up a sign during Tuesday's Santa Barbara school board meeting in support of a seven-period day at the district's junior high schools that would give all students access to electives, including wood shop. Credit: Rebecca Caraway / Noozhawk photo

The Santa Barbara Unified School District will be exploring options to fund and implement a seven-period day for Santa Barbara junior high schools after teachers raised concerns about some students not having access to electives.

The school board discussed the issue on Tuesday as parents and educators advocated for expanded access to electives and principals shared how their elective schedules work. 

Teachers began raising the issue in November, noting that English language learner students as well as students with Individual Education Programs have to take additional classes, which fill up their schedules. 

All four district junior high schools offer a zero- and/or seventh-period elective outside of the standard six-period school day, but offerings depend on staffing. Students’ ability to take extra classes often depends on parents or guardians being able to take them to school early or pick them up late. 

“At any site, it should not be on a student or family’s ability to get them there early or let them stay late,” said York Shingle, president of the Santa Barbara Teachers Association. “It should be our system that is taking care of these kids and providing the opportunity. It shouldn’t solve a problem for a few students. This shouldn’t solve a problem for many students. This needs to be a solution for all students.”

Parent Briana Serrato said her daughter was disappointed when she learned she would have to choose among art, wood shop and Spanish. 

“Students are going from having art, STEAM and music weekly in the elementary level to being lucky to have even one of those in their junior high career,” Serrato said. “Admittedly, I have looked into alternative junior highs for my daughter since she thrived with art and music, especially in elementary school, and I was concerned how she would do with only one elective option, but it wasn’t financially feasible for us.”

Parent Briana Serrato tells the Santa Barbara school board that her daughter was disappointed when she learned she would have to choose among taking art, wood shop and Spanish.
Parent Briana Serrato tells the Santa Barbara school board that her daughter was disappointed when she learned she would have to choose among taking art, wood shop and Spanish for an elective. Credit: Rebecca Caraway / Noozhawk photo

At La Cumbre Junior High School, Principal Bradley Brock shared that there are 69 multilingual learners who are not offered any electives because of a mandatory language development class.

Students with Individual Education Programs are able to access electives, but the 60 students in the AVID program (Advancement Via Individual Determination) have to take an academic elective, making them unable to take any additional electives. 

The only seventh-period option at La Cumbre Junior High is musical theater.

York Shingle, president of the Santa Barbara Teachers Association, says access to electives shouldn't depend on a student's ability to get to school early or stay late.
York Shingle, president of the Santa Barbara Teachers Association, says access to electives shouldn’t depend on a student’s ability to get to school early or stay late. Credit: Rebecca Caraway / Noozhawk photo

Dan Dupont, the principal at Santa Barbara Junior High School, shared that out of the school’s 62 multilingual learners, four have elected to take a zero or a seventh period outside of the regular school day, as well as one student with an Individual Education Program. 

Additionally, the school’s 33 dual language immersion students have to take a Spanish language arts class that takes the place of electives such as art, theater or wood shop during the regular school day.

Of those students, only seven chose to take a seventh-period elective. 

At La Colina Junior High, six of the nine multilingual learners chose a seven-period schedule, and 19 out of 97 students with an Individual Education Program opted in for a seven-period schedule. There are also 82 students who opted in for a seventh period to take band, ensemble or leadership, according to Principal Jennifer Foster. 

At Goleta Valley Junior High School, 22 of the 36 multilingual learners have opted in for a seven-period day. 

For students with an Individual Education Program, Principal Clanci Chiu-Merritt explained that most of them are able to get their elective and academic support within the six-period day, but there are some who have opted in for a seventh period. 

The district staff estimates that it would cost $1.58 million a year for seven periods to be implemented at all junior high schools.

Santa Barbara school board member Celeste Kafri calls the idea of a seven-period day “a no-brainer.”
Santa Barbara school board member Celeste Kafri calls the idea of a seven-period day “a no-brainer.” Credit: Rebecca Caraway / Noozhawk photo

Marianne Hew, executive director of secondary education, said the district also would have to consider whether there would be enough enrollment for additional classes, as well as facility space, equipment, additional staffing and transportation.

Board members were generally supportive of adding a seventh period, but there were concerns about how it would impact transportation and the district’s budget. 

Board member Celeste Kafri called the idea “a no-brainer.”

“I feel like this is totally possible. At the same time, we have a structural deficit, so we need to be looking at trade-offs,” Kafri said.

Board member Rose Muñoz raised concerns about how the schedule change could impact student transportation with Santa Barbara MTD and whether the district had the finances to support implementation.

Santa Barbara school board member Rose Muñoz raises concerns about how the schedule change could impact student transportation with MTD and whether the district has the finances to support implementing a seven-period schedule at junior high schools.
Santa Barbara school board member Rose Muñoz raises concerns about how the schedule change could impact student transportation with MTD and whether the district has the finances to support implementing a seven-period schedule at junior high schools. Credit: Rebecca Caraway / Noozhawk photo

“I am interested just overall, but I don’t want something that we’re going to start with students and then not be able to carry through, which could backfire,” Muñoz said.

She also considered whether implementation should be tested at some of the schools, before going to all of the junior high schools.

The board asked the district to come back on Feb. 24 with more options on funding for implementation, a feasibility plan for implementing seven periods at all four junior high schools or piloting it at two of the schools to start, and if implementation could start this fall or not until the 2027-28 school year.

The district also plans to survey students and parents about how they feel about the possibility of a seven-period day.

— Noozhawk staff writer Rebecca Caraway can be reached at rcaraway@noozhawk.com.