Ferndale district adds 400 instructional minutes in shift to trimesters

Ferndale School District administrators announced a schedule change that will add 400 minutes of instructional time per student for the 2027-2028 school year. The district will transition from a semester system to a trimester model starting in the fall of 2027.

Under the current arrangement, students attend school on a Blue and Gold Day schedule, which includes one day off per week. The new trimester structure will require attendance five days a week. According to Celina Rodriguez, the executive director of communications for Ferndale, this shift increases the total instructional time from 3,440 minutes to 3,840 minutes. The change also alters the number of courses students take at one time. Currently, students take eight classes, four each day. Under the new system, students will take five courses per trimester.

Superintendent Kristi Dominguez described the current eight-class schedule as the most expensive to operate while providing less instructional time. She noted that student data indicates the current model does not meet the needs of all learners. Dominguez stated that more than 650 students are currently requesting Academic Workshop. This workshop allows students to reduce their workload or manage the time required for their other seven courses. The district has not yet calculated the exact financial savings of the change because course offerings and staffing levels are still being determined.

Rodriguez said the new schedule aims to provide greater consistency in instruction. She explained that the additional days in school create more opportunities for students to connect with teachers. The reduction in course load per term is intended to help students manage academic responsibilities more effectively and engage more deeply with their learning.

Community feedback has included concerns about the impact on extracurriculars and core subject continuity. One student raised the issue at the October school board meeting, noting that a one-class-per-year reduction might limit participation in arts programs such as choir and band. Dominguez responded that the district is distinguishing between required credits and the number of courses. She stated that administration and staff are reviewing the new structure to ensure students retain a wide variety of pathway options for graduation.

Dominguez listed specific programs the district intends to preserve, including Career and Technical Education, fine arts, world languages, College in the High School, Advanced Placement, and electives. Another community concern involves the continuity of learning in core classes that may only be offered in two of the three trimesters. Assistant High School Principal Alli Chryst said staff are working through course sequencing to address this. The district is also reviewing data from other school districts that have already made the switch to trimesters.

The change will also affect teachers by altering instructional planning, lesson pacing, and scheduling. Chryst estimated that teachers will see roughly 60 fewer students per trimester under the new model. She said this reduction in class size should decrease the time spent on grading and increase the time available for lesson planning. Chryst emphasized that the goal is not simply to teach more content in less time.

Chryst acknowledged that the change is substantial for both staff and students. She noted that the planning process is still early. The team is gathering research, learning from other schools, and collecting questions from staff and families. Rodriguez stated that the focus remains on developing a schedule that minimizes unnecessary gaps while supporting academic progress.

The Ferndale School Board will hold a presentation on the move to the trimester system on November 24. The meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. at the Mountain View Learning Center, located at 5780 Hendrickson Ave.