Board approves 'Ready for Life' elective pilot for J.F. Webb; board asks staff to finalize syllabus and safeguards

The Granville County Board of Education on Sept. 2 approved a new local elective called Ready for Life (Adulting 101), authorizing staff to pilot one section at J.F. Webb High School and to return with a finalized syllabus and implementation plan.

The course is designed to teach practical life skills such as managing a personal budget, resume building and job interviewing, basic automobile care, and other tasks that district staff said students commonly do not master in high school. "This is a course that will adulting 1 0 1 everything they need to know from balancing their bank account," presenter Angie Salisbury said during the meeting.

Why the board approved a pilot

Staff described Ready for Life as an elective option for students who do not otherwise enroll in CTE classes that already cover finance or auto skills. Salisbury said the intent is to provide a hands-on course covering finances, household maintenance, and practical health and family-planning awareness. "We want young people to understand job interview... and how to change a tire," she said.

Board members pressed staff on timeline, capacity and content. Salisbury said the academic committee had proposed piloting one section during a spring semester, taught during a teacher's planning period with a stipend, or delaying rollout to the following school year if more development time is needed. "And having approval tonight doesn't mean that we would have to start it in January," she said.

Clarifications and conditions from the board

- Class size and staffing: Salisbury said a single section would ideally enroll about 25 students; the pilot could be staffed by an existing teacher during a flex/planning period with a stipend.

- Syllabus content: Several board members urged caution on overlapping material with other programs. One board member asked that staff avoid duplicating objectives already covered in required health and physical-education courses, particularly material on contraception and sexually transmitted infections; the board suggested framing those topics as "family planning" and involving health or medical professionals as guest speakers.

- Mental health: A board member asked for mental-health instruction to be included in the course; Salisbury confirmed mental health material will be addressed in the draft syllabus.

- Community partnerships: Staff noted an advisory partnership with a UNC-Chapel Hill contact would be consultative and at no cost; staff said they would also solicit community experts (banking, mechanics, medical professionals) to contribute to lessons.

Next steps

The board approved the pilot and asked staff to return with a final syllabus, instructor identification and a timeline for registration. Staff said they aim to have the pilot developed by December if possible but will not rush quality and may place the course in the next full registration cycle if more time is required.

Provenance

- Topic introduced: presentation of the Ready for Life course and request for approval (evidence excerpt s=2138s). - Topic finished: board approval of the course (evidence excerpt s=2952s).