Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the High School Schedule topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Oregon City High plans switch to semester/block schedule next year to boost consistency and access
Summary
Administrators outlined a change from trimesters to a semester/block schedule for 2025–26, designed to increase year‑long relationships, create longer class periods, enable shuttles for shared CTE/music courses with partner schools and use advisory time for clubs and supports.
Oregon City High School administrators told the school board they will move from the current trimester system to a semester/block schedule for the 2025–26 school year to improve instructional consistency, increase student access to CTE courses and allow longer, deeper class sessions.
Principal Greg Timmons said the change aims to let students and teachers build longer relationships and provide more classroom time for labs, project work and teacher support. The proposed bell plan would include a full‑day Monday of shorter periods, Tuesday and Thursday 72‑ to 90‑minute blocks, a 60‑minute advisory period (used for targeted supports and clubs), and Wednesday early release with a 72‑minute block. Under the plan, classes generally meet three times per week.
Timmons described a shuttle concept to connect Oregon City High with CASE and Oxlaw so students can travel to partner campuses for specialized CTE or arts classes; the shuttle would run on selected A/B days and some mornings. He said full daily alignment with community college schedules is infeasible, but that semester alignment will moderately improve dual‑enrollment opportunities.
To ease the transition, the district has provided professional development for teachers on block instruction and allocated eight hours (with either paid time or substitute coverage) for teachers to prepare course materials. Impact bargaining included an extra eight hours for teachers who will teach more than three distinct preps next year. Timmons said the district will monitor outcomes and solicit feedback during the coming year to refine the schedule.
Board members asked about advisory use, late‑lunch timing, supports for students who must leave early for athletics and parent outreach; staff said they will publish detailed materials and run orientation sessions for students and families before school starts. The schedule change was presented for information; no final board adoption of the bell schedule was recorded in the meeting minutes for that night.
Administrators said they will return with refined visuals and detailed calendars for families, and conduct follow‑up monitoring to assess impacts on attendance, course access and homework loads.
