Committee recommends reintroducing valedictorian and salutatorian at Pulaski County High School, targeting class of 2029

Dr. Silva (identified in the transcript as Speaker 5) told the school board that a committee representing faculty, administrators, parents and students recommends reimplementing valedictorian and salutatorian recognitions at Pulaski County High School, starting with the class of 2029.

"The majority of the committee... felt like it is something we should go ahead and reimplement," Dr. Silva said, adding that survey data from 2024 and 2025 trended positively toward reinstatement. The committee recommended launching with the current eighth-grade cohort to allow time for communication, policy review and to avoid giving an immediate advantage to students already accumulating weighted AP or dual-enrollment credits.

Dr. Silva told the board the committee discussed how weighted courses and transfer credits should affect GPA calculations, and recommended a policy review to clarify which courses would count toward honors recognition, how transfer students would be treated, and an implementation calendar with deadlines. Board members asked whether current recognitions (for example, high honors and other awards) would continue; Dr. Silva said existing recognitions would remain in place and the valedictorian/salutatorian would be an additional accolade.

The board did not adopt a final policy at the meeting; Dr. Silva asked the board for feedback and indicated the committee will return with proposed policy language and an implementation timeline.

Provenance: Presentation begins at SEG 589 and continues through SEG 699.