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Parents urge Coachella Valley Unified to preserve dual‑language program, oppose ‘combo’ classes
Summary
Dozens of parents and students told the Coachella Valley Unified board June 11 that planned ‘combo’ mixed‑grade classes threaten the district’s dual‑language program and risk losing teachers and enrollment; trustees said they will explore outreach and transportation options to preserve access.
Coachella Valley Unified School District parents from Cesar Chavez and other campuses urged the board June 11 to preserve the district’s dual‑language program and avoid assigning students to mixed‑grade “combo” classes that they say reduce instructional time and burn out teachers.
“Dual language gives students the opportunity to speak English and Spanish and graduate with a bilingual seal,” parent Jesselle Aridondo told the board during public comment. “Combo classes force teachers to teach two curriculums and reduce direct instruction for our kids.”
A line of parents, students and teachers described how lower enrollment and staffing moves have produced combo classes across several grades. Maria Louisa Rodriguez, who said she represents Cesar Chavez families, said the emotional toll on students has been severe: “My daughter cried about losing a teacher she loves — this is grief for kids.” Student speakers from Coachella Valley High School also delivered petitions signed by more than 100 students asking the board to keep specific teachers on campus.
Trustees responded that the district values the dual‑language program and discussed short‑ and medium‑term options. Director Ardondo and other board members said they have asked staff to study ways to advertise dual‑language campuses and to explore transportation solutions so students who live outside a given campus can still attend without creating combo classes at neighborhood schools. “We need a workshop on dual language and on combos,” one trustee said, noting the district’s large geographic footprint and the way program distribution can force mixed classes.
District staff said some choices were driven by budget constraints in a multi‑year fiscal stabilization plan; trustees and staff said they will review enrollment patterns, seniority rules and whether targeted transportation (routing) could allow consolidation of dual‑language sections to avoid combos. No policy changes were adopted at the meeting.
What happens next: Trustees asked staff to return with options for signage, outreach and transportation that could help stabilize dual‑language enrollment and reduce the need for combo classes. The board also signaled willingness to consider a follow‑up workshop focused on program placement and staffing.
