IRVINE : ‘Zero Period’ Classes Might Be Restored

The Irvine Unified School District Board of Trustees voted Tuesday to restore some early-morning classes at middle schools as long as the district has enough money next fall to teach the courses.

Last month, the board voted to cut the “zero period” music, foreign language and science classes beginning next fall to help reduce an expected $3-million budget shortfall. The early-morning class allowed students to add an optional course to their regular six-class daily schedules.

The board only partially restored funding for zero period Tuesday night, which will mean that some classes such as foreign language might not be offered during the early-morning period.

The board gave priority to restoring instrumental music first, chorus or musical theater second, and foreign language and science classes third. Music classes were given priority because those would be the ones most likely dropped by students in favor of academic classes, board President Helen Cameron said.

With five required classes to take, students can take only one optional class without the special zero period. Music and foreign language classes are optional at the district’s four middle schools.

Until the state adopts its budget, the school district won’t know how much money it will have to spend next year. The amount of state funding will determine whether zero period will actually be offered and how many students will be able to attend, Cameron said.

Fifty to 140 students have signed up next fall for zero period classes at each of the middle schools.

District administrators at first considered trying to save all zero period classes by charging students a fee, said Dean Waldfogel, assistant superintendent for instruction. But the district found out it can’t legally charge a fee for the classes, he said.