Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Electives Cte topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Teachers and counselor urge district to protect electives as CTE programs expand
Summary
Multiple Horizon High staff told the board they are losing elective teacher positions and programs as the district expands CTE offerings; Superintendent Chris cited a new state graduation mandate and declining enrollment as drivers and promised follow‑up with principals.
Multiple educators and a counselor told the Adams 12 board on Jan. 21 that electives at comprehensive high schools are shrinking and that staffing and scheduling changes tied to expanding CTE pathways risk narrowing student options.
"Our concern is that we're losing electives, teachers and programs, at our comprehensive high schools," said Jason Herman, an electives teacher at Horizon High School, who described having five course preparations to maintain a full‑time role and said colleagues are anxious about job security. Leanne Turrada, a former Spanish teacher and current instructional coach, and Ginger Zancanella, a longtime French teacher, described similar pressures: reduced full‑time roles, difficulty sustaining programs such as theater and world languages, and scheduling rules that can automatically drop students from elective courses.
Deanna Guzman, a school counselor, warned that some college‑bound students are being pushed into CTE pathways and losing access to world languages: "If they are college bound ... they need a world language. They are now missing that." Wendy Dre, a German instructor, urged balance: she praised targeted CTE but said electives can alter students’ lives and college trajectories.
Superintendent Chris responded that the state has enacted a graduation requirement allowing students to meet the standard via a CTE credential, 12 hours of concurrent enrollment, or a relevant work‑based learning experience. He said districts are adapting to that mandate alongside declining enrollment—the district reported being down about 1,350 students this year and projecting another 800 fewer next year—and said those pressures complicate scheduling and contribute to duplication of courses. Chris promised to "huddle up with our high school principals" to better understand scheduling fragmentation and explore mitigations.
The board did not adopt any immediate policy change at the meeting; staff committed to more study and conversations with principals and stakeholders.
