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High school updates: new electives, construction pathway and required contemporary affairs course
Summary
High school leaders presented a revised program of studies expanding elective access, adding a construction careers program at the Eastern Center for Arts and Technology, and proposing Contemporary Affairs as a required half-credit senior course to strengthen civic reasoning.
High school administrators reviewed updates to the program of studies and highlighted new and revised courses intended to increase elective access and career-pathway opportunities.
Dr. Zee told the committee the program-of-studies now highlights NCAA-clearinghouse courses, expands elective offerings across departments and adds a two-year Construction Careers and Management program in partnership with the Eastern Center for Arts and Technology. "We got that information directly from Eastern," Dr. Zee said, describing the new pathway as a two-year option for eligible students.
Course changes include restructuring freshman ELA (ELA 1) from a full year to one semester, splitting journalism into two grade-band courses, using Algebra II with financial applications to meet the state personal-finance requirement, creating a Foundation of Engineering course run by Kate Whitaker, and adding material science and forensic science as new science offerings. Dr. Zee also described adjustments in music and performing-arts offerings and said some low-enrollment classes (Broadway and Psalm) will not run next year.
For seniors the proposed Contemporary Affairs half-credit core course would replace a previous global-studies requirement to provide seniors with a framework for analyzing current global issues across political, economic and social lenses. Dr. Zee said the course is intended to strengthen civic reasoning and global citizenship ahead of graduation.
Administrators said they will distribute program-of-studies cards to eighth graders, provide counselor one-on-one scheduling meetings for grades 8–11 and host curriculum night on March 12, 2026, to present the guide to families. The changes discussed are contingent on full board approval of the revised curriculum guide.
