By Savannah Kram
Next school year, Wildcats can expect a major shift to their daily routine. For the 2025–2026 school year, Ukiah High will implement a new bell schedule—one of the most significant changes since the COVID-19 pandemic. The plan is finally confirmed after months of discussion, research, and collaboration among staff, administration, and students.
Mondays will kick off the week with a change: students will attend all seven periods in a rapid-fire format, with each class lasting just 45 minutes. A newly developed rostered tutorial known as “U-Time” will not occur these days, allowing for a quicker pace and full rotation through every class.
Tuesdays and Thursdays—also known as Purple Days—will stay mostly the same. Students will go to 1st, 3rd, 5th, and 7th periods, each running for 90 minutes. The school day will begin at 8:30 a.m. and wrap up slightly earlier than usual at 3:35 p.m., ten minutes ahead of the current dismissal time.
The most dramatic change comes on Wednesdays and Fridays, designated as Gold Days. Instruction will start an hour later at 9:30 a.m. to make room for teacher collaboration meetings. Students will attend 2nd, 4th, and 6th periods, each 90 minutes long, and will also have U-Time, a flexible period built into the day for academic support, independent work, or visiting other teachers for help.
At the heart of the change is a key concern identified by teachers and administration: students aren’t consistently using the current tutorial period for its intended academic purpose. Designed as a time for students to catch up on homework, connect with teachers, or visit the library for tutoring, the staff told UHS News that the tutorial period has increasingly become a free-for-all, with some students leaving campus or socializing instead.
In response, a team of teachers and administrators worked together to develop a new schedule they believe better serves the needs of the student body and enhances the learning environment. Students will now be required to attend “U-Time,” a daily check-in with their assigned teacher for built-in academic support, no more optional morning or afternoon tutorials.
“The idea is that it’s an academically based intervention or enrichment,” said Principal Dr. Analese Alvarez. “It’s what a tutorial is intended to be. We are making it what we call an embedded or rostered time, where every student will be assigned a place to go—like a homeroom, if you will—and then be able to receive enrichment or academic intervention based on what they need.”
Another noticeable change is the introduction of a “dismissal period” for 11th and 12th graders who are on track to graduate, providing them with more flexibility in their schedules. Meanwhile, all students will be required to attend a mandatory intervention period on Gold Days.
The need to require student attendance of tutorial classes is backed by student data gathered by UHS News in a schoolwide survey. According to the results, around 72% of students use their tutorial period for school-related activities such as homework, studying, or getting help from teachers. However, 47% reported going off-campus during that time, and 35% admitted they primarily use the time to hang out with friends.
Despite this, many students have not received the idea of a rostered intervention period. In the same survey, 72% expressed disapproval of the mandatory intervention.
Still, some student leaders see the potential in the new structure. ASB Sophomore President Elijah Cohen shared a nuanced perspective on the change.
“I think that the schedule change is going to be beneficial for keeping students engaged on campus,” Cohen said. “I don’t think it’s going to be a thing that’s immediately accepted because it does take away a big chunk of unregulated tutorial time that a lot of students find either helpful or a time to go home.”
He believes the benefits will become clear with time. “Once students get used to the new schedule and learn the timing of it, because the timings change as well, it’s going to lead to more student engagement on campus.”
Cohen also reflected on how the change could affect his own academic plans. “For me, I would want to take a lot of APs next year, and if I had the eight-period schedule, it would be easier to take those,” he said. “Although given this new schedule, I can still take the classes that I would want, but I may have to be more strategic in how I take on non-AP classes.”
He further expresses his thoughts to UHS News, “I don’t know if the whole schedule change was necessary. I like the idea of fixed gold and purple days, but I don’t like how it limits classes and the times for release or dismissal.” Cohen continues, “I think that it makes things a lot more complicated for juniors and seniors who don’t necessarily need to take all seven classes, and I think in the past with the tutorial system, it’s been an easier schedule, even though it’s been slightly confusing.”
Cohen also reflected on how the change could affect his own academic plans. “For me, I would want to take a lot of APs next year, and if I had the eight-period schedule, it would be easier to take those,” he said. “Although given this new schedule, I can still take the classes that I would want, but I may have to be more strategic in how I take on non-AP classes.”
Ultimately, Cohen acknowledged a reality many students feel: “It was never a student’s opinion, it was always going to be a teacher’s decision.”
Indeed, several teachers played a key role in shaping the new schedule. English teacher Michael Riedell was among those advocating for the shift, emphasizing that the current open periods are not being used as intended.
“The meeting every class three days a week, the fact that right now we have the eight periods and most kids don’t have the eight periods… I think I can safely say most kids are not using that open period very wisely,” said Riedell. “Yeah, I think we’re just getting rid of a thing that’s not working.”
Riedell believes that the changes will especially benefit students in AP classes or those who already value their tutorial time. “I definitely think that other students—the ones that are not using the tutorial—are going to be like, ‘oh, I hate this.’ But I think for AP students or students that really need it, it’s beneficial.”
He acknowledged that change can be stressful for students, but offered reassurance. “I think that as much as people might be looking at the schedule right now and wondering or thinking that they won’t be able to adjust, I think we’ll adjust pretty fast and then it’ll be the thing that we now call normal.”
English and Drama teacher Chris Douthit also played a pivotal role in the schedule planning process and believes the new intervention structure will push students to use their time more wisely.
“Right now, I think a lot of students aren’t utilizing their tutorials to maximum effect,” said Douthit. “And I think this is going to help students figure out how to use that time better.”
He added that the new system allows every teacher to be available during the intervention period, which could increase access to academic support. “In the new system we’re going to have, all teachers will have a period to help students. So I think that’s going to open up what kind of help students can get.”
With a year to prepare, Wildcats will have time to adjust and adapt. As with any change, it may take time for the benefits to be fully realized, but the goal is clear: to make learning more focused, structured, and supportive for all.
Savannah Kram is a sophomore and a new Journalist at Ukiah High School. She is involved in the drama department, currently taking Advanced Drama, now taking Journalism this year. She is a youth volunteer for downtown Ukiah. She joined the journalism class for new experiences, to write about local and current events, and to bring awareness to subjects that have yet to be shown under the spotlight. She was born in Ukiah, California raised in a different state, being back here made her more inspired to become more involved within the Ukiah community. She is ecstatic to begin her journey at Ukiah High News this school year and hopefully for years on end.
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