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Education committee reviews program-planning changes: course removals, swim test-out and pilot reviews
Summary
The committee reviewed proposed program planning guide revisions including removal of low-enrolled industrial technology courses, a swim test‑out policy, a liberal six‑day drop/add window, lifeguarding credit, and updates on the science pilot (Twig) that faces firewall/IT access problems.
The Education Committee reviewed proposed program-planning updates that would remove under-enrolled industrial-technology courses, rename manufacturing and construction to construction technology, add lifeguarding for PE credit, expand AP and arts offerings and add a University of Pittsburgh dual‑enrollment option.
Dr. Zach Fuller (Speaker 7) explained the staffing- and curriculum-driven changes and discussed making prerequisite language more flexible to allow teacher recommendations to bridge students from prep into honors. He also proposed a swim test‑out for current 8th and 9th graders to be administered by PE teachers in the spring so students who already meet swimming competency may avoid the swimming unit and be placed in a non-swim PE section.
Fuller proposed a liberal drop/add period during the first six‑day cycle of school to permit schedule changes with restrictions — no course drops for senior privilege, no changes that reduce required full‑time credits and limits on course caps and minimum section sizes. Trustees debated whether six days is sufficient or whether a longer window (multiple six‑day cycles) or earlier sample assessments would better inform students and parents.
Committee members also received an update on the Twig science pilot (Speaker 12), which teachers praised for engaging simulations but which requires network access patterns the district’s CIO judged too permissive; staff will revisit other vendors (Kessler-style options and OpenSciEd) and report back.
