Op-Ed: Keep Students at Center of School Schedule Decisions
Stamford Board of Education Vice President Urges Focus on Students
During 25 years in education as a teacher, principal and leadership coach working with school and district leaders, I have learned that effective district governance and thoughtful implementation of policy changes are critical to student success. That is why I have watched the rollout of Stamford’s new high school schedule with both concern and care.
In early May, I joined several Board of Education colleagues in urging district leaders to pause the transition to the new “flexible” schedule. We hoped this action would create space for more transparency and collaboration around such a significant change. Our letter was sent before scheduling work specific to the “flexible” schedule had begun — at a point when a pause could have prompted meaningful dialogue without major disruption.
Since then, however, the scheduling process moved forward. The new structure has been built in PowerSchool — sections assigned, teachers placed, room schedules finalized. At this stage, reversing course would cause real harm: students could face incomplete schedules at the start of the year, delays in meeting graduation requirements, or lost access to core academic courses.
Some members of the community have pointed to the 2022 late reversal of the then-proposed 4x4 block schedule as a precedent that demonstrates that a similar change of course is feasible now. But the situation today is fundamentally different. The 2022 proposal involved moving from one 8-class format to another 8-class format. In contrast, reverting from what has now been planned for next year back to the current schedule would entail reducing the number of periods from eight to seven — a far more complex alteration with deeper implications for credit-bearing opportunities.
Effective leadership requires good management skills — whether in education, business, or any other field. Among other necessary attributes, members of the Board of Education should demonstrate the capacity to oversee operations thoughtfully and responsibly. During the May 27 Board of Education meeting, a suspension of the rules occurred and a resolution was introduced with no prior notice and without sufficient thought. The implications of the adoption of the resolution were not properly considered and indeed the wording of the proposal kept changing each time the member introducing it was asked to describe it.
Issuing last-minute directives undermines principles of good governance and risks chaos in implementation. It also sends a chilling message to prospective district leaders about our community’s commitment to steady, professional leadership. Who would want to work in Stamford under the constant fear of chaotic, last-minute, poorly considered resolutions from a Board of Education looking to score political points with a subset of the public that happens to be present in the meeting room?
I continue to advocate for collaborative leadership, transparent communication, and, above all, decisions that keep students at the center. At this stage in the process, I cannot support actions that would put students’ academic progress — and in some cases, graduation itself — at risk.
Let’s move forward with clarity, integrity, and a shared commitment to doing what is best for students.
Versha Munshi-South currently serves as the vice president of the Stamford Board of Education. Her comments are her own and do not represent the official views of the Board of Education.
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