Parents and students urge district to reduce combined classes and restore arts programs
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Summary
Multiple public commenters, including a fifth‑grade student and parents from Liberty and Rogers schools, urged the board to limit multi‑grade "combo" classes and to restore VAPA (visual and performing arts) offerings; speakers linked combined classes to lost instructional time and student disengagement.
Parents and a student told the Chula Vista Elementary School District board that combined (multi‑grade) classes and reductions in visual and performing arts are harming student engagement and learning.
A fifth‑grade student who identified herself as Annie described feeling isolated in a combined fifth‑sixth classroom and said she missed art instruction: “Arte es un lugar donde las personas te pueden expresar... es una cosa muy alegre,” she told the board. A parent from Liberty Elementary, speaking for teachers and families, said the district needs to explain why combined classes are being used and urged more opportunities for parents and students to give input on placement decisions.
At Rogers Elementary, a speaker said the school serves a high share of students with special needs and is leading the district in suspensions; the commenter asked for a full‑time counselor and for allocations to be adjusted based on need. Multiple speakers asked for transparency about how combined‑class decisions are made and requested informational meetings allowing parents to raise concerns.
District response and context: Board and staff acknowledged the concern and directed staff to provide additional information on class assignment procedures, how combined classes are determined, and what supports (IEPs, 504 plans, English learner supports) are in place. Staff described existing extended learning and arts options at some sites and said programs vary school‑to‑school based on staffing and resources.
No vote: The remarks were part of public comment and informational discussion; the board did not take formal action on class‑size policy during the meeting.