Parent urges board to hear PSEO students before changing weighted-grade policy

Paul Freeburg, a parent of a senior at Marshall High School, told the Marshall Public School Board that proposed changes to Policy 620 on weighted grades could reduce students' eligibility for merit scholarships and college admissions advantages.

Freeburg said he had worked with the Minnesota Department of Education on a prior change that made PSEO students eligible for automatic weighted grade credit and warned the board that reversing or narrowing weighted-credit rules would have “a direct monetary effect” for students seeking scholarships. “Weighted grades are used by all universities when they look at merit‑based scholarships,” Freeburg said.

The board discussed Policy 620 during a scheduled second review of several policies. Board members said the item will come back for additional review before final action; no vote on changing weighted‑grade rules was taken at the meeting. District staff told the board they had consulted teachers and other staff but had not conducted a formal survey of students or parents in the PSEO program.

Board members commented that the district’s options are constrained by state decisions. During the discussion one board member said the choice is difficult “when the state legislature takes away the ability we have to be discretionary,” and indicated support for a position that follows the state direction while acknowledging it is not an easy choice.

The board will return to Policy 620 for further review on its regular revision schedule; the meeting record shows this was the second review rather than a final reading. The transcript contains no final motion or vote to change weighted‑grade treatment for PSEO or CIS students.

The policy discussion occurred during the agenda item labeled “second review of policies 414, 415 and 620.” The board also reviewed other policy numbers during the same agenda slot and scheduled additional reviews before any adoption.