Kennett board approves Astronomy elective and new 'Kennett Future Ready' capstone
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Summary
The Kennett Consolidated School District board approved two courses — a semester Astronomy elective (with a dual‑enrollment option) and a yearlong Kennett Future Ready senior capstone — and discussed curriculum mapping via the Atlas platform and counselor staffing shortages.
The Kennett Consolidated School District board approved two new courses Monday: a semester‑long Astronomy elective with a dual‑enrollment option and a yearlong Kennett Future Ready capstone designed as a senior capstone tied to internships.
Curriculum staff demonstrated the district’s Atlas curriculum‑mapping platform and explained how each course includes unit calendars, standards alignment, assessments, and embedded instructional supports. Ms. Vitri (curriculum lead) said the maps include enduring understandings, language objectives, differentiated scaffolds, and identified tools and resources that teachers can access.
The curriculum committee report also emphasized a districtwide shift to the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) model and highlighted counselor caseloads that exceed recommended ratios. Ms. Perry noted Greenwood Elementary’s counselor ratio at about 564:1 and New Garden’s about 503:1, and the district plans to hire two additional counselors across the 2026–27 and 2027–28 school years to reduce caseloads. “Our current student to counselor ratios exceed the recommended 250 students to 1 school counselor,” Perry said.
The board voted to approve both courses. Parents and board members praised the level of transparency in the curriculum materials and the Atlas tool’s public accessibility.