Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Secondary Education topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
High school proposes ELA restructure, CIS physics and new electives; board debate centers on enrollment-driven removals
Summary
High school leaders proposed a package of course restructures and electives aligned to the new trimester schedule and college‑credit goals, including relabeling ninth‑grade honors as "accelerated," adding AP Seminar, piloting CIS Intro to Physics to replace honors physics, and creating more career and performance electives.
High school administrators presented proposed course additions, renamings and removals designed to align with the district’s new 5x3 trimester schedule and the district goal to increase college credit attainment. The board heard that the proposals will return for approval on Nov. 10.
Russ Reitz, high school principal, and Carrie Barth, associate principal for staffing and scheduling, described the major changes: in ninth grade the district plans to relabel the existing "honors" sequence as "accelerated" to reflect that the same standards will be covered in 24 weeks rather than 36; starting in tenth grade students would have choice among literature and composition pathways; AP Seminar is proposed as an additional way for students to earn college‑level credit in English; and the district continues to promote concurrent‑enrollment (College in the Schools, CIS) and postsecondary options to meet the district goal that 40% of graduating seniors hold at least 12 college credits by 2026.
Course additions include performance/speech electives, sports photography/ multimedia 2, printmaking, jewelry, architectural design 2, an ASL literature and filmmaking option, and expansion of work‑based learning credit opportunities. Science proposed CIS Intro to Physics to replace honors physics; CIS courses grant college credit when a partnering institution approves the instructor. Tech Ed, social studies and world language also proposed new electives and minor changes.
Staff said course removals are driven primarily by low or no enrollment over multiple years. Proposed removals listed in the packet included German, AP Art History (which the art department says will retain other AP studio offerings), consumer economics, certain ensemble and instrumental sections, and some honors sections in favor of AP/CIS pathways.
Board members questioned the optics and rigor of removing courses. Mr. Scar said parents could perceive a reduction in rigor and asked how families were informed; administrators said they presented the proposals at systems‑accountability meetings and that enrollment patterns and the need to run viable sections informed the recommendations. Administrators also argued that CIS college credits are recorded on college transcripts regardless of AP test outcomes and can be more reliable for students seeking college credit.
Alex Doucette, a social studies teacher and debate coach, described a new seasonal Debate 2 course to provide in‑school practice time during competition season and to support competitive team growth; students competed in a recent tournament and the teacher reported strong student engagement and early competitive success.
No approvals were taken at the meeting; administrators will return to the board with resolutions and final course language at the November 10 meeting.
