Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Program Of Studies topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Tewksbury Memorial High School program of studies approved; certified nursing assistant course cleared
Summary
The committee unanimously approved the new Program of Studies that adds early-college pathways, new AP courses and a state‑licensed certified nursing assistant program; administrators plan outreach to families about course selection.
The Tewksbury School Committee approved a revised Program of Studies for Tewksbury Memorial High School on Feb. 5, voting unanimously to adopt the document after a principal presentation and committee discussion.
Principal Andy Long reviewed changes that include additions and revisions to the school’s course catalog: a new AP environmental science course, a pre-calculus AP offering, a marine‑science course, and Project Lead The Way (PLTW) biomedical courses including Principles of Biomedical Science. Long told the committee that biotechnology courses have been reorganized and that some courses were removed because they are no longer offered.
A major addition announced at the meeting was a certified nursing assistant (CNA) training program. Long and Superintendent Terri O’Regan said the district has secured approval from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health licensing system to run the CNA training program and will pair classroom coursework with a clinical internship partner (Sunny Acres Nursing Home and Rehabilitation Center). That licensing approval allows the high school to offer coursework that leads to state certification following the clinical component, subject to the program’s clinical placement capacity and final steps required by the licensing authority.
Why it matters
The updated Program of Studies expands early-college and career-pathway options at the high school while creating new credentialing opportunities for students who pursue health‑care careers after graduation. Committee members said they want to increase outreach to families so parents understand how to read the Program of Studies and how teacher recommendations and student course requests work during the course-selection window.
Committee discussion and outreach
Committee members asked how families will be assisted in course selection and were told guidance counselors will meet with students during English classes and that administrators will schedule visits to the middle school and communications to families after February break. The district also plans presentations and materials to explain early-college pathways, dual-enrollment options and AP versus pathway choices.
Vote
The committee took the Program of Studies out of order on the agenda and then approved it on a motion and second; the vote passed unanimously.
Ending
School leadership said any subsequent minor edits—particularly language clarifications in the special-education section—will be shared with the committee; the document will be posted online for students and families to use during course-selection season.
