Teacher and parent urges Agua Fria board to reopen discussion of AB block schedule, calls for greater transparency

Jed Luttrell, a teacher with 22 years’ experience in the district and a parent, urged the Agua Fria Union High School District governing board on April 8 to reopen public discussion about a proposed AB block schedule, saying the decision process excluded parents and students.

"I just ask that the board fulfill our district’s commitment to transparency, communication, [and] stakeholder involvement," Luttrell told the board during the public-comment period. He said the committee that recommended the AB model was “largely made up of district employees,” that at least two committee members voted against the AB proposal despite statements that it had been unanimously approved, and that records of committee meetings and votes should be released to the public.

Luttrell said he has taught Advanced Placement courses for nearly 20 years and has experience teaching under traditional, AB and 4x4 block schedules. He argued the 4x4 block offers the same number of courses—eight—as the AB model but provides additional benefits, including the ability for students who fail a first-semester course to retake it in the second semester. "The 4x4 gives students who fail a course first semester the opportunity to take that course again second semester. This is especially important for increasing graduation rates and improving student retention," he said.

Luttrell also urged the board not to tailor the schedule primarily to Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate students, noting that, in his account, AP students account for 26% of the district’s student population and IB courses are offered at only one district school. "Student success in AP courses ultimately comes down to good teaching and student dedication, not what type of schedule they're on," he said.

President Acton interrupted Luttrell when his time expired and thanked him for his remarks; the board did not take action on the schedule at the meeting. The district later convened a public hearing on an instructional time model as part of the formal process for schedule changes and plans to return with a vote at a following meeting, according to board staff comments at the April 8 session.

What happened next: The board moved to convene a public hearing on the instructional time model during the same meeting and later adjourned that hearing back to regular session; the public hearing is the statutorily required step before the board can vote on instructional-time modifications.

Why it matters: A districtwide schedule change would affect course loads, recovery options and daily student workload across Agua Fria schools. Luttrell’s comments highlight faculty, parent and student concerns about process and transparency as the board considers a model that will shape course access and remediation options for the coming years.

Next steps: Board materials indicated the instructional time model will return for action at the next meeting after the public-hearing process. Luttrell asked that committee meeting records and vote records be made public before any final decision.