Naperville CUSD 203 previews redesigned school day; district to present final plan to board in February

Dan Bridges, superintendent of Naperville Community Unit School District 203, outlined a districtwide proposal to change school schedules at a Focus 203 community session, saying the plan would “create flexible, student‑centered learning environments” and asking for community input before the Board of Education considers a formal vote.

The proposals would add 15 minutes to elementary school days, revise middle‑school schedules to increase math instructional time and add a weekly anchor day, and move high schools to a block schedule with four 85‑minute block days and one anchor day. Bridges said the district aims to implement changes in August 2025 but noted several required steps remain, including two board presentations and collective bargaining with staff.

The district framed the effort as an attempt to address chronic absenteeism, uneven instructional minutes and large amounts of unstructured time. “Our true vision is for our school district to help build a passion for lifelong learning,” Bridges said, adding that the district’s strategic blueprint and its profile of a learner guided the work.

Katie Matthews, assistant superintendent for elementary education, described specific elementary proposals. She said the district’s…