New Albany-Plain Local proposes new courses and semesterized theater options for 2026–27

Brian O—Shea, director of secondary education, and Nicole James, assistant principal, presented a slate of 14 course proposals the board will consider for the 2026–27 school year.

Proposals include a traditional English 9 option (as an alternative to ninth-grade humanities), a tenth-grade American humanities option, a strategic leadership semester course for juniors and seniors tied to credentialing opportunities, and the addition of American Sign Language (ASL) 3 to continue the ASL sequence run in partnership with Ohio Deaf and Blind Education Services. The district also proposed honors drawing 3 to replace an existing college partnership if staff retirements make that credentialing model untenable.

New electives proposed include an introduction to media arts to feed the planned broadcast journalism pathway at the tech hub, and a competitive show choir to replace a proposed honors pop a cappella class. Theater offerings were reorganized to semester formats (Broadway Bound, Stage Ready, Auditions and Performance, and honors options) to expand scheduling flexibility for students who take College Credit Plus or other courses. The district added a College Credit Plus trig course (Columbus State math 1149) to pair with an existing college algebra offering and improve scheduling flexibility.

Board members asked about prerequisites, honors eligibility, and communications to middle-school families to explain the choice implications of freshman scheduling. Administration said the ninth-grade humanities option will remain available and that counselors will work with middle-school staff to clarify elective choices for rising freshmen.

Next steps: The proposals were presented for board consideration; standard board action on new course approvals is handled through the consent or curriculum approval process at a future meeting.