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Teachers and parents urge board to tighten oversight of nondistrict online course credits as language and arts cuts worry community
Summary
Multiple teachers, parents and students urged the board to reexamine acceptance of nondistrict (PLI) courses for credit and to protect in‑district world language and arts offerings, arguing summer/online courses can weaken program quality and undermine multi‑year commitments to language study.
Several teachers, students and parents used public comment to press the board to reexamine the district’s approach to nondistrict courses (personalized learning/instruction, PLIs) and to protect world‑language and arts programs that have faced layoffs.
Ashley Hoover, a veteran Spanish teacher at Dougherty Valley High School, said the district’s acceptance of outside online credit is jeopardizing the depth and continuity of in‑district language sequences. “Mastery requires sustained year‑long engagement with speaking, listening, reading, and writing. It is not a curriculum that can be crammed into one summer,” Hoover said, urging the board to restrict or strengthen oversight of nondistrict providers.
John Yu and other parents asked the board to preserve Korean and other language classes at Cal High and to honor students’ multi‑year commitments to language sequences. Several speakers from Quail Run and other elementary schools urged the district to restore leadership and staffing rather than cut programs that support equity and language access.
Supporters of nondistrict options also spoke. Kelly Ryan described nondistrict courses as valuable options for some students — those working ahead, balancing commitments or needing an alternate pace — and urged quality controls rather than blanket bans.
Superintendent Hammack and board members acknowledged the complexity and said they would continue engagement with labor partners, students and staff to refine policy and update the community.
Next steps: district staff said they will continue negotiations with bargaining units, gather student voice and community input, and return with policy options for nondistrict course approvals and quality standards.
