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District starts earlier master‑schedule process, adds 13 courses and bolsters PowerSchool workflow for course selection
Summary
District staff said they began master‑schedule planning earlier to ensure correct grade placements, better resource planning and recruiting; the Oct. 14 course catalog approved 13 additional courses and counselors will guide one‑on‑one course selection with PowerSchool screens and worksheets.
District staff outlined an accelerated master‑schedule and course‑selection process intended to reduce fall schedule changes, improve placement accuracy and create earlier timelines for staffing and resource planning.
Presenters described multi‑stakeholder working groups (50–60 participants including counselors, teachers, building and district administrators, special education and multilingual coordinators) that began in September and met in October to identify priorities for next year’s master schedule. Staff emphasized legal grade placement, acceleration and honors opportunities, balanced class sizes and earlier identification of staffing needs so the district can recruit and hire before the start of school.
Angela Marino, director of curriculum, said the board approved the academic programs and course catalog on Oct. 14; the catalog has been posted on the district website. As a result of counselor and teacher feedback, staff enabled 13 additional course offerings to address identified inequities, especially for juniors and seniors in honors pathways.
Staff described a workflow where students complete physical course worksheets that counselors use in one‑on‑one meetings; counselors then enter selections into PowerSchool, after which students and parents can review choices online and request follow‑up meetings or adjustments. Staff said the district will continue to refine the course catalog and powerSchool screens and that the work will be iterative.
No action was taken at this meeting; the presentation was informational and staff said the process will continue through late winter and spring with progress updates to the board.
