Fallbrook High considers restructure plan

A concept is being discussed and developed that may lead to Fallbrook High School changing its administrative infrastructure in an effort to provide more one-on-one help and guidance for students. The thought is that if smaller "learning communities" were created within the greater student population, administrators could be assigned specifically to groups to provide personalized support for both the youth and teaching staff.

According to FUHSD superintendent, Dr. Hugo Pedroza, the district's board of trustees has given development of the concept "the green light."

"It is a concept that could make our high school a lot more personalized," explained Pedroza. "It will take the entire 2015-2016 school year to work out the details and make sure we have <a plan> that makes sense." Therefore, the earliest the concept could potentially be put in place would be for 2016-2017.

To the casual observer, the restructuring wouldn't be noticeable. The student population would still be socially interactive in its entirety on campus – no change to lunch or break schedules, Pedroza said.

Students will not be grouped by academic performance, nor cultural background, administrators said, and the number of "learning communities" within campus could be anywhere from two to six, Pedroza said.

"This is not to be conceived as separation between the students, you can't really tell there are small learning communities unless you go deeper into the infrastructure because they will have common entry time, lunch, and exit time, because that's the time when students socialize and build ties," said Pedroza.

Balance is vital, assistant superintendent of educational services, Dr. Jose Iniguez said. "The smaller communities would be equal – in terms of their cross section of student. Every year we would look at the socio economic picture and get a balance across performance and all other areas. Otherwise, it would defeat the purpose. We don't want divisions – we want all to be equal."

Iniguez said every Fallbrook High student will be a Warrior. "It won't affect sports teams, the band, and other extra-curricular activities."

He also went on to explain that by having administrative staff assigned to smaller groups of students, rather than all being responsible for the student population as a whole, allows for better oversight.

"With this [concept], administrators can engage students and interact more effectively with them, whether it might be in the area of improvement of academic performance, attendance, participation in extra-curricular activities, involvement of parents, detentions...," said Iniguez. "It allows us an opportunity to develop more of a sense of community with our students."

"Essentially, it provides more connection with adults at the school and reduces the feeling of anonymity that you find in a large environment," said Pedroza. "We want to make sure all of our students can be as successful as they can."

Pedroza emphasized that implementing a new framework for accountability and support is only part of the improvement process.

"Modifying the structure by itself doesn't do it, you have to have a strong commitment to helping the kids – one by one," he said. "We have to make sure that all of us are in there to be sure all of our kids count. This particular structure makes it a little easier."

Iniguez shared an example of how the realignment could work. "For instance, we would use our assistant principals in a more comprehensive capacity. It's very difficult for an assistant principal to get to know all the teachers on staff and all the students on campus, there are simply too many. However if we assigned each assistant principal to a limited number of both students and staff members, it would bring a smaller and more personalized concept to all."

Pedroza also used attendance as an example, stating that currently a report is prepared each day in a matter-of-fact way.

"In the method, more conversations would take place on a one-on-one basis with students if they were showing instances with lateness and absences," said Pedroza.

"We would be able to investigate issues using a different approach – whether it's attendance or academic, it's all related," said Iniguez. "If administrators can get to know the students and their families better, it gives us a better opportunity to help them."

According to Pedroza, Fallbrook High School expects to welcome 2,200 students for the 2015-2016 school year and more plans for improvements are in the works.

"We want to increase the number of programs we have for students to pursue career paths," said Pedroza, using the existing agricultural education department as an example. "One area in regards to that would be more education for technology-based careers."

"Bringing SAT and ACT test preparation courses on campus is something we also hope to be able to announce shortly," he said. "The key is to be able to offer them free of charge to our students."

The International Baccalaureate (R) program is also an addition that Pedroza wants for Fallbrook High School. Founded in Switzerland in the late 1960s, International Baccalaureate offers highly respected programs of international education that develop intellectual, personal, emotional, and social skills that prepare students to learn and work in a global environment.