Board debates new valedictorian, salutatorian rules; staff to redraft policy around GPA-per-100 approach
Summary
Board members and staff debated whether valedictorian recognition should require a fixed AP-course threshold or be based on GPA with one valedictorian per 100 students. Administration will redraft the policy to reflect the direction heard.
The School Board reviewed proposed changes to policy IKC on valedictorian and salutatorian recognition and directed staff to produce a revised draft favoring a GPA‑based formula. Administrators had proposed increasing the AP-course requirement from four to eight and eliminating salutatorian status; staff noted the new provisions would start with this year’s freshman class. Board discussion focused on two approaches: keep a high AP-course benchmark to encourage academic rigor, or determine valedictorians by weighted GPA with one valedictorian per 100 students. Trish, a district staff member, summarized the recommendation and the implementation timeline: "it would start with this year's freshman class." Several board members said they favored returning to a more traditional model that produces fewer valedictorians. Member comments and data points that shaped the discussion included: last year’s graduating class count (about 390 students) and examples of course loads—13 students took eight AP courses last year while the district recorded 27 students designated as valedictorian under the previous approach. Several board members proposed alternatives: one valedictorian per 100 students, or one valedictorian plus a set number of salutatorians (for example, the top four after valedictorian). Staff clarified honors-diploma criteria already in place: a 3.5 GPA minimum, at least six advanced courses (not exclusively AP), passing state assessments (OSAS) in math, science and language arts, and 27 credits. The group discussed tie-breaking (honor both students if GPAs are identical) and recommended that ties for salutatorian expand that category rather than exclude students. Direction: the board asked staff to rewrite the policy reflecting a GPA-based valedictorian (one per 100 students) and suggested language on salutatorian numbers and tie-handling; staff will return with redrafted language. Ending: The board asked staff to return with a revised draft that clarifies whether the valedictorian is determined strictly by weighted GPA, how salutatorian slots are allocated, tie procedures, and the effective cohort (the meeting record notes staff said the change would begin with this year’s incoming freshmen).
