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Trustee urges district to raise standards after high-school finals opt-out change
Summary
A board member criticized a high-school finals opt-out policy that allows students with C grades to skip finals, arguing that the policy rewards attendance over achievement and urging administrators and the board to raise expectations.
During board comments, Trustee Jeff Miller urged the district to reconsider a recent change that allows some students to opt out of high-school finals based on attendance and grade thresholds.
Miller said the policy as he interpreted it "puts attendance above achievement," adding: "Let's reward true excellence, not just attendance." He said the current system allows a student with a C to skip finals and suggested that lowering the bar risks reinforcing mediocrity.
Other trustees acknowledged the concern and discussed social media commentary from parents questioning the policy. One trustee said they wanted the high school to revisit whether finals should be opt-out or whether finals should be designed to meaningfully assess semester learning.
No formal action or vote on the finals policy occurred at this meeting; the comments were made during the board-comment portion of the agenda and several trustees said they supported raising academic expectations.
