School board considers seven course additions including drum line and dual‑credit anatomy; action deferred to December

The Grand Forks Public Schools curriculum review committee presented seven elective additions and one deletion during the Nov. 24 meeting; the board treated the item as discussion-only and will take action course‑by‑course at its next meeting.

Dr. Brenner, presenting for Dr. Glatch and the committee, said the recommendations include drum line (a half‑credit performance ensemble), Exploring Health / health‑care careers, Advanced Manufacturing 1 (and 2 as a sequence), dual‑credit Anatomy & Physiology A & B and Spanish for native‑heritage speakers. The committee recommended deleting the current Robotics course and retitling or replacing it with Advanced Manufacturing 1 to better align pathways.

Committee members emphasized the changes are intended to be cost neutral and to use existing staff and scheduling; Dr. Brenner said, "there's no additional cost to any of these courses being added. No additional cost for staffing. Everything would be done in house with existing folks." Board members pressed for more details on staffing qualifications, classroom and technology needs, class sizes (particularly for drum line) and possible impacts on other electives. Doctor Hodak asked whether qualified teachers exist and whether moving staff between courses could create hidden costs or require additional sections in other subjects.

Administrators said they would provide the requested specifics ahead of the December meeting and that the board will vote on the courses individually rather than as a package.