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By Dr. Rebecca Hamman

What is going on at AITE-Academy of Information Technology & Engineering, Stamford High & Westhill—Stamford’s three comprehensive high schools? Will a new & improved flexible block schedule really work? Just ask our 5,000 students and former graduates what they think…they don’t mince words.

History Tells A Story…

In 2022 central office leaders tried to suddenly change the high school schedule to a 90 day-1 semester block (4 subjects daily, called the 4x4), but the teachers, parents, students and community members pushed back loudly and publicly. The noise finally ended when two of the three high school principals completely stopped the process due to late scheduling concerns.

Fast forward to 2025, a new and improved ‘flexible’ schedule was imposed on the teachers as well as a class load increase (1 teacher per 150 students/semester). A $50,000 scheduling consultant was also hired to do the schedule build. Sadly, Stamford Education Association (SEA) could only bargain the impact. Also quite alarming*, the SPS Board of Education (BOE) does not vote on class schedules (superintendent’s discretion). So why does learning need to be rushed in 90 days? And now couple it with a 180 day-2 semester block (8 subjects every other day for AP & IB students)? Why ongoing schedule changes—2021, 2022, 2024, 2025?—yet no follow-through with data analysis or fidelity? Departments are not meeting several times weekly to address student and curricular needs—the real reason for blocking. If central office leaders can’t implement this block schedule program with efficacy, then the actual reason behind the schedule is not educational at all.

Perfect Storm…

To promote this new schedule, a Board of Education (BOE) presentation was conducted in November 2024. No BOE questions were allowed to be asked publicly until February 2025. Mini presentations were then held at each comprehensive high school in December 2024. Parents and students spoke up at the BOE December 2024 and January 2025 regular meetings. Finally, in February, the BOE had a second presentation—the flexible schedule now seems to be more about careers. It is getting real confusing… just like the national 2008 housing bubble and bank bailouts, is this initiative too big to fail?

Due to the purpose, size and complexity of each high school, this schedule change is a huge risk to undertake. In fact, central office leaders may be creating a perfect storm. Although graduation rates may increase, the dumbing down of learning will be astronomical—just ask students who are trying to build their schedules for next year. Lawsuits from parents, too, could create a financial nightmare for years to come.

Three major risks are involved:

Moral Hazard

• Central office administrators may be generating a moral hazard. Numerous risks have been shared by 851 parents and students from all three high schools. Research proves this schedule does not support student/teacher absences and achievement accountability. Even more, it will weaken morale and trust. SPS educators will not be fooled as instructional leaders. Parents and students, too, know that not all learning needs may be addressed, or equitable.

Unfair Competition

• There are discrepancies between Stamford/Westhill High’s academic programs and AITE’s. This puts AITE at a huge disadvantage—the smallest high school—Top-30 in the state (Niche, 2025). AITE could risk its magnet and high-achieving status. It is clear, one-size-does-not-fit-all.

Learning Instability

• Knowing 30% of SPS students can only pass 1 or 2 components of the SAT, this hybrid schedule becomes a major risk if learning is forced to happen in 90 days versus stretched over 180 days (current A/B schedule). Time is needed to absorb content. Colleges don’t even use this type of schedule. When course loads, extracurriculars and other responsibilities are not in balance, students become more stressed.

Stamford central office leaders are not being transparent about the reasons for this new schedule. The Attorney General and CTSDE commissioner have given us no support in how to address. As parents, students and community members, we need excellence, not risk-taking. Stamford needs stability. Most importantly, our kids need stability. Let’s be proactive…please return to the A/B schedule.

*Conn. Gen. Stat. 10-221 ‘Boards of education are charged with the responsibility for prescribing rules for the management, studies, classification and discipline of the public schools.’ Aside from statutory requirements, boards of education are well-advised to develop policies to guide school officials in the daily operation of the district.

**You can view the signed petitions here and here, and download the letter to the Commissioner below.

CTSDE Commissioner & CAO LetterDownload

Dr. Rebecca Hamman currently serves as a member of the Stamford Board of Education.  Her comments are her own, and do not represent the official views of the Board of Education or its committees.

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