Naperville 203 board postpones decision on school day changes
Naperville Unit District 203 school board members Monday delayed a vote on proposed school day changes that includes block scheduling at the high schools and a modified block schedule at the middle schools.
During a two-hour discussion about the innovative school experience proposal, three school board members — Charles Cush, Donna Wandke and Melissa Kelley Black — said they could not support the plan and that more community input is needed before voting.
“It just feels to me like we're dragging the community kicking and screaming into this without actually getting support and feedback in an adequate amount of feedback from that community,” Cush said, noting that though the district hosted focus groups on the proposal, those sessions did not include information on the proposed start and end times — one of the main sticking points for parents.
Cush, like other board members, expressed support for the intent of the proposal — mainly to help close achievement gaps and limit unstructured time — but said the district needs to garner support from parents, teachers and the community. The proposal, initially presented in January, has drawn strong objections from teachers and parents.
The modified plan would bring structural changes to the school day, including block scheduling at the middle and high schools and adding 15 minutes to the elementary school day.
The proposal also calls for a committee to review proposed school start and end times and bring a recommendation to the board in June. Parents and staff have expressed concern about the possible time changes.
It also would allow for the creation of staff implementation teams to work out the finer details of how block scheduling or other school day changes would play out when they take effect at the start of the 2026-27 school year.
Board President Kristine Gericke expressed support for the plan, saying it meets several of the priorities in the district’s strategic blueprint. The district hosted various sessions with staff for input, the four in-person Focus 203 sessions and Monday marked the sixth board meeting where the proposal was discussed, she added.
“Our kids are attending school at hours that do not allow them to function at their best,” Gericke said. “We’ve been asking them to adjust and bear a burden for too long … and I feel like it’s our time now, as adults, to do what’s best for them.”
Wandke attempted to reach a compromise with fellow board members by suggesting Gericke read a statement saying the panel supports moving in the direction of the proposed changes. Instead, they opted to postpone a decision on the reluctant recommendation of Superintendent Dan Bridges.
“Honestly, it wasn't my intention to get to a point where I'd say table it,” Bridges said.
“I don't think there would be clarity on actually what's happening or what's expected,” he added. “I'd rather have an opportunity to work with my team on what that would look like and bring it back to the board.”
The board is expected to resume discussions of the proposal at their next meeting, set for May 5.