Delano High School plans ethnic-studies elective; administrators flag cell-phone discipline spike

A Delano High School representative said the school is preparing a course description to comply with state changes requiring ethnic-studies content and will offer the course as an elective depending on student interest. The representative also said school leaders are considering moving Career Life Prep from ninth to eighth grade to better align course sequencing and to give students time to develop four‑year plans before high‑school registration.

The high school report included discipline and screening data. The representative said the district recorded 124 first‑offense cell‑phone incidents this trimester (with 21 second offenses that require parent pickup) and that the school’s overall discipline rate per day is trending toward prior norms after early‑year attendance and policy changes. "124 first offenses," the representative said, noting that last year’s grace period for cell phones was not offered this fall.

On screening and FAST achievement data, the presenter reported a high math screening rate for grades seven through ten (about 87.11% in the low‑risk or college‑pathway band) but lower reading results driven by a reportedly low participation rate among ninth graders. The presenter said ninth‑grade participation likely depressed the reading figures and cautioned against overinterpreting the cohort trend without further analysis.

Board members asked clarifying questions; administrators said they will track participation and consider sequencing and curricular work in advisory to support transitions.