Lifetime Citizen Portal Access — AI Briefings, Alerts & Unlimited Follows
Penn Manor board to consider six new half-credit courses after high-school scheduling overhaul
Loading...
Summary
Administrators proposed converting 23 semester courses into 45‑day half‑credit marking‑period offerings and adding six new half‑credit classes to broaden student options; the board voted 7–1 to place the new-course proposals on the Nov. 17 voting agenda.
Penn Manor School District administrators told the board on Nov. 3 they want to restructure parts of the high‑school master schedule to offer more short, half‑credit courses that give students a wider mix of experiences.
Mr. Eby, the high‑school lead on scheduling, said teachers and a scheduling committee identified 23 existing semester courses that could be restructured into 45‑day, half‑credit marking‑period offerings. "This would give our students the opportunity to have probably 10 experiences a school year instead of just 8," Eby said, arguing the change would expand electives, internships and work‑based learning without wholesale changes to the long‑standing block schedule.
Administrators also proposed six new half‑credit classes for 2026–27, including introduction to weight training; an advanced competitive sports course; an introduction to business/business‑in‑action; a required financial‑literacy half credit (Act 35 requirement); global trends in modern history; and a history of sports in America. Mr. Bechtel, who manages the master schedule, showed how the shift would preserve required credits while freeing "margin" in the schedule to add new options.
Board members asked about curriculum compression and standards; Eby said teachers analyzed standards and scope‑and‑sequence documents and selected 23 courses where a 45‑day structure would be pedagogically feasible (ceramics, some FCS offerings and certain social‑studies electives were cited). On questions about internships and service‑learning credits, the administration said a half‑credit work‑study or service‑learning model is being explored but has not been finalized due to logistics and the time required to secure placements.
Chair called for a motion to place the six new course proposals on the Nov. 17 voting agenda. Mr. Straub moved to place the proposals on the agenda and the board approved the motion, 7 in favor, 1 opposed. Board members requested that questions raised during the committee meeting be routed to the presenters so administrators can provide clarifications before the Nov. 17 vote.
If approved at the Nov. 17 meeting, the changes would take effect beginning with the 2026–27 school year and would be accompanied by course descriptions and updated implementation guidance for counselors and teachers.
The board will revisit the proposals and vote on Nov. 17.
