By Clayton Chaney
Staff Writer
During a regular meeting held by the Archuleta School District (ASD) Board of Education (BoE) on Wednesday, April 1, Pagosa Springs High School Principal Sean O’Donnell presented changes to the high school’s schedule for the 2026-2027 school year.
O’Donnell began by explaining why the high school feels a schedule change needs to be done, noting that the school is “always looking for ways to have better outcomes for kids.”
He mentioned that students have been taking four classes in the fall, and then four new classes in the spring, similar to a college schedule model.
O’Donnell commented that he is unsure if that is the “ideal” model for the high school level, noting that, typically, students are engaged in core classes all year long.
He mentioned that a “key driver” of deciding to implement a schedule change is that students need to be engaged with core content all year long.
O’Donnell explained that with the current schedule it is possible that a student may take freshman math in their first fall semester, and then not take their next math course until spring of their sophomore semester.
“Thats a big gap,”he said, explaining that having core content from September to May “eliminates that gap.”
Other issues have also come up with PSAT and SAT testing that takes place in April, with some students taking courses in the fall and taking a break from the material, then testing, O’Donnell explained.
O’Donnell then explained the scheduling committee chose to prioritize student outcomes, student supports, time and teacher benefit while considering other scheduling options.
He explained that when looking at what other school districts around the country do, the three most common things found are having traditional seven-period days, alternating blocks or a hybrid schedule.
“So, we wrestled with that as a committee,” he said, explaining that when measuring the options against the priorities chosen by the committee, “ultimately the place we landed was an eight-period day.”
He noted the high school’s schedule for next year will run from 8 a.m. to 3:45 p.m., Monday through Thursday, with eight 45-minute periods.
Friday’s bell schedule will run from 8 a.m to 1:45 p.m. with eight 35-minute periods.
He then explained that “double-block” classes will be offered for certain courses like career and technical education (CTE) classes, and art classes that will run for 90 minutes.
“There’s not enough time to really get some great work done in 45 minutes,” O’Donnell said, noting that building and auto CTE courses may need more time.
“Forty-five minutes does not give them enough time to do anything meaningful,” he added.
O’Donnell clarified that double-block classes are courses in which students can receive a full credit in a semester’s amount of time.
He explained that the high school will now also offer a number of elective courses as “half-credit” classes, but that “all of our core classes are gonna be year-long.”
O’Donnell also mentioned that graduation requirements won’t change and that students will have the same opportunities they currently have with eight-period days over four years, “so there’ll be no need to change graduation requirements.”
He then explained that core classes will have A and B portions, and that there will be “fidelity” at the end of the semester ensuring that each class is at the same point in case there are students who need a schedule change and end up with a different teacher the following semester.
O’Donnell went on to mention that “there’s been a want” to look at how the high school does its student eligibility, noting it has to follow the Colorado High School Activities Association’s requirements and the school can identify its own requirements that may go “above and beyond” those.
clayton@pagosasun.com
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