Lodi Unified board adopts 7‑period day for three high schools after hours of debate over staffing and classroom time

The Lodi Unified School District Board of Education voted unanimously on Feb. 4, 2025, to adopt a resolution requiring three comprehensive high schools to move from a six‑period to a seven‑period day beginning in the 2025–26 school year. The board approved the measure 7–0 after extended public comment and discussion about implementation, staffing and instructional minutes.

Superintendent Neil Young told the board the 7‑period model ‘‘would allow for a wider range of course options including electives and career pathways, enable students to earn more credits each year, allow more students to achieve A‑G completion, allow students to engage in credit recovery during the school year, provide greater opportunity for interventions, increase graduation rates, and increase opportunities for early college classes and dual enrollment.’’ He said the district would use its current staffing formula to determine any increased staffing required and that teachers would teach five of…