Board members of the Pascack Valley Regional High School District and students spent part of the reorganization and regular meeting discussing plans to create an honors-level music course and how GPA calculations and counseling tools display the effect of that course on students’ grade point averages.

The conversation began during new business when a board member asked about adding an honors music class. Dr. Balotti said the district is meeting with teachers to develop a plan and that the department will meet this week to devise implementation details. “We are meeting with some of the teachers, tomorrow and the whole department on Thursday to come up with a plan,” Dr. Balotti said.

The issue drew public comment. Student Elizabeth Glugler, who identified herself as a student involved in multiple music programs, thanked the board and urged adoption of honors music. “I want to thank you for the possibility of there to be honors music added. This is going to, I think, enhance our music program,” Glugler said.

Students and parents used public comment to press for clearer reporting so music students can see how course choices affect GPA and college applications. One student speaker asked whether the district’s counseling tools — referred to in the meeting as “Score” and “Genesis” — make it easy to estimate the impact of taking honors music on a student’s GPA. In response, staff said counselors input data and that Score is intended to help students with career and GPA projections, while Genesis contains transcripts. Dr. Balotti said the district has been working to refine how counselors and tools present that information and that guidance is intended to help students navigate course selection.

During the exchange board members noted a departmental leadership transition in the music department, with an interim supervisor previously in place and a newly started staff member. Board members and staff said they want to ensure a smooth supervisory transition as the honors course is developed.

The board did not take a formal vote to adopt an honors music course at the meeting. Instead, staff described next steps: the music department and teachers will meet to produce a plan, staff will consult guidance counselors about how Score and Genesis convey GPA effects, and the district will return to the board with details and timeline. One staff comment noted the district expects a September start date for the honors designation but did not provide a firm year in the meeting record.

The discussion also touched on related counseling processes: the district uses interest and career surveys for students (delivered through systems referenced as Score and Naviance) beginning in early high school and coordinates those with individual counseling meetings. Staff said the district has been refining those surveys and expects to continue improving how information is presented to students and families.