Medford committee amends schedule for health and PE review; members request more flexibility

The Medford School Committee on May 19 debated proposed adjustments to health and physical education graduation requirements and voted to continue the item for further review after a motion to amend was approved.

Interim Superintendent Suzanne Gallucci presented a draft approach that would set year‑long physical education courses (freshman year once per week, sophomore year twice per week) and move Health I to sophomore year and Health II to junior year to preserve course rigor within a new consolidated schedule. Gallucci said the district negotiated a merged schedule that increases the school day by 15 minutes and adds a period; the scheduling change affects how health and PE can be delivered without reducing curricular rigor for existing Health I content.

Member Rousseau expressed concern about delaying Health I, saying early health instruction is important and noting past HECAT (Health Education Curriculum Assessment Tool) work showing many students learn key topics before instruction arrives. “I guess I'm very concerned about the delay here,” Rousseau said. Committee members discussed schedule mechanics (how CTE rotations and a merged schedule affect freshman assignments) and whether the district could offer alternatives such as independent study or electives.

Member Graham proposed an amendment to change graduation requirements to require three years of physical education, two years of health, and one additional year of either PE or health (including independent study options). The amendment was seconded and passed. The committee then voted to continue detailed approval to the next regularly scheduled meeting to allow staff to tighten language and to show how the amendment would appear in graduation policy and student schedules.

Gallucci said independent study options could qualify for PE credit if students participate in two seasons of an MIAA‑sanctioned sport, club sports or outside instruction (dance, martial arts), keep a weekly activity log and complete a year‑end reflection. Health independent study would require completion of Health I and Health II and a capstone project.

Ending: The committee directed staff to return with clarified policy language and examples of how the amended graduation requirements would be scheduled and implemented; the committee did not adopt final policy language on May 19.