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Parents, students urge Ventura Unified to pause 'uncoring' and schedule changes at De Anza's IDE Academy
Summary
Scores of parents, students and community members told the Ventura Unified board Nov. 19 that recent decisions to ‘‘uncore’’ middle-school classes and alter the block/cohort schedule at De Anza were made without adequate notice. Speakers asked the board to pause changes and allow time for transparent review and alternatives.
Dozens of parents, students and community members urged the Ventura Unified School District Board of Education on Nov. 19 to pause recent changes they say will alter the De Anza IDE Academy’s block schedule and cohort structure.
Parents including Kelly Perry and Cameron Perry described a lack of notice and said the district’s decision to “uncore” middle-school classes and consider deblocking was made without school- or parent-level transparency. "This decision was made at the district level without any parent notification," Kelly Perry told trustees, adding that the IDE Academy’s block schedule and integrated project-based curriculum are central to students’ engagement and success.
Several students, including Nash Perry, said the program transformed their experience; one student said it was the first time they looked forward to school. Other commenters — including educators, alumni and IDEA families — pressed the board to give the school time to research alternatives and urged the board to ‘‘pump the brakes’’ on rapid changes. Parents asked for a year-long review to find solutions that maintain the program while coming into legal compliance, if any compliance gaps exist.
Board members heard repeated requests that the district refrain from making abrupt changes that would affect current cohorts and families who applied through School of Choice. Board and staff said they would schedule a conference item to explain the timeline and decision process and agreed there should be a fuller public discussion before irreversible changes are implemented. No final program change or vote was recorded at the Nov. 19 meeting.
Why it matters: The IDE Academy was described by multiple parents as a flagship, project-based program that draws students districtwide. Families and teachers argued that sudden structural changes could reduce the program’s effectiveness and harm students who chose the school specifically for its integrated curriculum.
What trustees said: Trustees signaled willingness to bring the item back for more detailed presentation and to distinguish site-based decision-making from district-level mandates; staff said they would prepare a conference item that lays out why certain steps were taken and what options remain.
Next steps: Trustees asked staff to present a focused conference item at a future meeting that explains the sequence of decisions, any statutory requirements cited by staff, and recommended next steps for parents and school leaders.
