Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Course Selection topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Oxford Area SD highlights strings expansion, adds sports broadcasting to high school course guide
Summary
Board reviewed the 2025–26 high school course selection guide, including continued expansion of the strings program, a new sports broadcasting course, and a recommended (but flexible) prerequisite for AP Literature. Administrators said the guide will be posted online for public review before the upcoming regular meeting.
Oxford Area SD Board of Directors members reviewed proposed changes to the high school course selection guide for the 2025–26 school year on Feb. 18, including continued expansion of the district’s string orchestra program and a newly added sports broadcasting course.
The discussion matters because course offerings and prerequisites shape students’ academic pathways and community review before final board action. Administrators said the guide will be made available electronically so the public can review it ahead of the regular meeting where the board may act.
Dr. Woods opened the agenda item by noting there are 18 proposed changes to the high school guide and by highlighting two items administrators wanted the board to notice: the continuation of the string orchestra program and an added sports broadcasting course. “I do wanna highlight number 9. This is the continuation of our string orchestra program,” Dr. Woods said. He described the strings expansion as a response to a growing cohort of students advancing from elementary and middle school strings into high school. He added: “we will be adding additional string instruments on for that burgeoning population.”
Dr. Woods also described the new sports broadcasting course in item 16, saying district staff and a teacher observed a neighboring district’s robust program and “we have fledgedly started that program” and that some productions are viewable on the district YouTube channel. He said the course is intended as a pathway into communications postsecondary programs or careers.
Board members questioned the proposed change to AP English Literature prerequisites. One board member asked whether recommending classical mythology as preparation for AP Literature was mandatory. The board member characterized the course as “a recommendation. That's not a requirement. Right?” Dr. Woods confirmed the guide lists it as a recommended prerequisite rather than an absolute requirement, and said administrators expect occasional exceptions for students whose schedules or prior coursework differ.
During the public-comment portion of the work session, Ronnie Lutz of East Nottingham Township asked whether the high school course guide would be available to the public before the regular meeting and whether the guide complied with new federal or executive guidance referenced by commenters. Dr. Woods responded that the guide “can certainly [be] make[d] ... available electronically on our website” and later confirmed, “Yes. We'll have it up there,” for public review.
No formal board vote on the course selection guide occurred during the work session. Administrators said the board can remove the item from the upcoming regular meeting agenda or postpone action if members request more time for public review.
The presentation also included brief praise from newer board members for the expanded curricular options and a note that the Oxford Education Foundation has contributed to the strings program in prior years.
Looking ahead, administrators indicated the board will take final action at a regular meeting; the district said it will post the full 2025–26 high school course selection guide on its website for public review prior to that meeting.
